Nonlinear interferometry approach to photonic sequential logic

TL;DR

This paper proposes a photonic sequential logic approach using nonlinear interferometry with Kerr resonators, enabling efficient, low-energy optical logic components like NAND gates and bistable latches.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method combining nonlinear interferometry and Kerr resonators for scalable, energy-efficient photonic logic circuits.

Findings

Achieves attojoule-scale energy separation between latch states.

Demonstrates implementation of fundamental logic components like NAND gate and latch.

Utilizes quantum-optical models for design validation.

Abstract

Motivated by rapidly advancing capabilities for extensive nanoscale patterning of optical materials, I propose an approach to implementing photonic sequential logic that exploits circuit-scale phase coherence for efficient realizations of fundamental components such as a NAND-gate-with-fanout and a bistable latch. Kerr-nonlinear optical resonators are utilized in combination with interference effects to drive the binary logic. Quantum-optical input-output models are characterized numerically using design parameters that yield attojoule-scale energy separation between the latch states.