| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To provide the optical memory with which high-speed and random access is possible by reading out the binary information on the equiv. refractive index of a branch by the output from the other end of the incident light from one end of a waveguide. CONSTITUTION:The Y-branch waveguide is used is an optical memory cell and its trunk 10 and branch 11 consist of a linear medium. Its branch 12 consists of a nonlinear medium having an optical Kerr effect. The waveguide 13 constituting a directional coupler is disposed in a part of the branch 12 in proximity to the part with the branch 12. Further, the waveguide 13 consists of the linear medium and its equiv. refractive index is approximately equal to the equiv. refractive index when the light is not made incident on the branch 12. The writing of binary data into the optical memory cell is, therefore, executed, by changing the power of the incident light on the trunk 10 from weak to middle or from strong to middle. The reading out is executed by making weak light incident from one end of the waveguide 13 and detecting this light at the other end. |
