Discussion

The technique described above is indispensable in designing complex optical systems whose components have significant nonidealities. It has been incorporated into a digital optical computer-assisted design system, HATCH,[#!10!#] where it has proven invaluable in the design of optical counters[#!11!#,#!12!#] and an optical delay line memory system.[#!13!#] It is now being used in designing a bit-serial optical computer now under construction in our laboratories. ...

As we mentioned above, linear cross talk and loss behaviors are assumed in the device models for computing the power triples. If the transfer functions of the devices are non-linear, then the three equations should be modified to incorporate the appropriate transfer characteristics.

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers program under grant CDR 8622236 and by the Colorado Advanced Technology Institute.


\begin{references} \bibitem{1} J. C. Palais, {\it Fiber Optic Communications}, 2... ...'' M.S.\ thesis (University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., 1991). \end{references}

Figure: Power fluctuations at a detection point.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}

Figure: General device model.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}
Figure: Modeling a lithium niobate switch.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}
Figure: Modeling device loss and cross talk.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}
Figure: Optical circuit.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}
Figure: Graph model of optical circuit.
\begin{figure}\end{figure}

Table: Minimum Signal Powers
Vertex P1min (dBm)
1 0
2 -3
3 -5
4 -5
5 -8
6 -11
7 -8