An Invertible All-optical Logic Gate on Chip

TL;DR

This paper presents an on-chip all-optical logic gate that can invert and switch roles based on timing, utilizing quantum Zeno blockade in a lithium niobate resonator, enabling new possibilities for optical computing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel invertible all-optical gate on chip that uses quantum Zeno blockade, with switchable control and signal roles by timing adjustments.

Findings

Achieved 2.4 and 3.9 power extinction ratios.

Demonstrated role switching of control and signal pulses.

Operates with nanosecond pulses at milliwatt power levels.

Abstract

We demonstrate an invertible all-optical gate on chip, with the roles of control and signal switchable by slightly adjusting their relative arrival time at the gate. It is based on quantum Zeno blockade driven by sum-frequency generation in a periodic-poled lithium niobate microring resonator. For two nearly-identical nanosecond pulses, the later arriving pulse is modulated by the earlier arriving one, resulting in 2.4 and 3.9 power extinction between the two, respectively, when their peak power is 1 mW and 2 mW. Our results, while to be improved and enriched, herald a new paradigm of logical gates and circuits for exotic applications.