Optical arrangement having at least one gate

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical arrangement, in particular a photonic integrated circuit (10), having the features of claim 1.

Description

[0001] Optical arrangement with at least one gate

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to an optical arrangement, in particular a photonic integrated circuit, having the features of claim 1.

[0004] Implementing an optical gate is difficult. This represents a hurdle for the feasibility of optical analog and logical computations. An optical gate would, for example, enable optical information processing, e.g., of optical signals in optical communication, without the need to convert the optical signal into electronic data for processing.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an optical arrangement with at least one gate, wherein the above disadvantages are eliminated.

[0006] The above object is achieved by an optical arrangement, in particular a photonic integrated circuit, having the features of claim 1. The optical arrangement comprises at least one gate. The gate comprises at least one amplifier device. The amplifier device is designed to amplify an intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams. In other words, an intensity (in particular in the case of constructive interference) of two light beams can be amplified in the amplifier device. In addition, the amplifier device is designed to superpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle. In other words, two light beams can interfere with one another or be caused to interfere with one another in the amplifier device.

[0007] In particular, in the case of constructive interference at the inputs of the amplifier device, the gain is switched on, while in the case of destructive interference, the gain is switched off. In particular, the gain or the degree of amplification can be adjusted in the amplifier device. The gain of the amplifier device can be adjusted in particular so that (optical) losses can be compensated. Losses can be caused, for example, by propagation losses in waveguides.

[0008] In particular, by means of the amplifier device, an optical gate can be implemented through the effect of (controlled) interference. The amplification in the amplifier device can counteract the optical losses. In particular, after amplification in the amplifier device, the intensity of two light beams, for example, can be greater than the combined intensity of the light beams before amplification in the amplifier device. Depending on the respective phases of the light beams (and the respective intensity), a signal can be amplified in the amplifier device (in the case of constructive interference) or not amplified (in the case of destructive interference), since the signals cancel each other out in the area of ​​the amplifier device). In this way, an optical gate can be implemented using simple means.

[0009] In particular, by combining amplification and interference of two light beams in the amplifier device, a gate implementation can be made as compact as possible. In addition, the signal-to-noise ratio can be higher than with separate implementations of amplification and interference, because the interference and amplification take place in the same place and the amplification can react very sensitively to a phase difference between two light beams and the resulting interference. In addition, the same components can be used to implement logic gates with one input (e.g. NOT) or with two inputs (e.g. AND, XOR), and even more inputs. In particular, AND and NOT can be used to implement a complete set of logic gates (Boolean functions).

[0010] The nonlinear light-matter interactions in materials can be used to generate interactions between two light beams, for example, through induced nonlinear phase shifts. However, these nonlinear phase shifts are rather small and therefore require high intensities. By amplifying the intensities in the amplifier device, this interaction can be utilized, particularly in a gate.

[0011] The optical arrangement can comprise an (optionally structured) lithium niobate layer arranged on an insulator (LNOI). The optical arrangement can comprise at least one waveguide for guiding at least one light beam or at least two light beams. The waveguide can be arranged in or on the lithium niobate layer.

[0012] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the optical arrangement and / or the amplifier device can be configured to feed energy into the amplifier device to amplify the intensity of the light beam or beams. This can be achieved using parametric fluorescence. Other types of energy input are also conceivable, e.g., thermal, electrical, etc. The energy input into the amplifier device can also be implemented using four-wave mixing or based on the photorefractive effect.

[0013] This allows the feeding of energy into the amplifier device to be implemented using simple means.

[0014] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the amplifier device can comprise at least one first input, at least one second input, at least one output and / or at least one second output. The first and / or the second input can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the amplifier device. The first and / or the second output can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams out of the amplifier device.

[0015] In this way, at least one light beam or at least two light beams can be coupled into or out of the amplifier device using simple means.

[0016] According to a development of the optical arrangement, the amplifier device can comprise at least one resonator or be designed as a resonator. The resonator can be designed as a ring resonator. The resonator can be designed as an optical resonator. The ring resonator can be designed as an integrated optical ring resonator. For coupling into the resonator (or out of the resonator), two waveguides can be used, each arranged on two opposite sides of the resonator. The resonator can be critically coupled to the two waveguides so that a light beam can be coupled into the resonator on a first side of the resonator and can leave the resonator again on a second side of the resonator opposite the first side. In this way, an add-drop filter can be implemented at a single frequency.The critical coupling condition can be met (only) for excitation with two signals. Amplification can be achieved, for example, by (spontaneous) parametric fluorescence ((spontaneous) parametric down conversion (PDC)). This can be implemented, for example, in a resonator with periodic polarization or without polarization (e.g., as a "whispering-gallery wave" resonator). A wavelength of 1550 nm (nanometers) (telecommunications band) and a corresponding pump wavelength of 775 nm can be used. Other wavelengths are also conceivable.

[0017] The resonator can be tuned to a wavelength of 1550 nm. In particular, the input and output of the resonator can be tuned to the same wavelength, especially at 1550 nm. This has the advantage that several gates can be arranged directly one behind the other. The required pump light with a wavelength of 775 nm must be coupled into the resonator, especially for parametric fluorescence. This can be achieved with the help of a special evanescence filter system (passive or active). Using the evanescence filter system, a light beam with a wavelength of 1550 nm (signal light) and a light beam with a wavelength of 775 nm (pump light) can be separated and / or combined.

[0018] Thus, the pump light required for parametric fluorescence can be guided to the resonator at the first and / or second input. A tunable Mach-Zehnder element in front of the evanescence filter system allows a suitable adjustment of the pump light power. The Mach-Zehnder element and / or the

[0019] Evanescence filter systems can be integrated into the optical arrangement as part of the optical arrangement.

[0020] With additional filter systems at the first and / or second output of the resonator, the pump light can be filtered out or separated from the signal light. A cascade of such filter systems is also conceivable for a higher pump light suppression rate.

[0021] The separated pump light can be used to monitor a suitable setting for the phase conditions in the resonator and for the coupling regions. The coupling regions can be controlled so that a suitable coupling ratio can be achieved for both wavelengths. With the help of tunable elements, a suitable setting for both coupling regions can be achieved, in particular to compensate for the influence of manufacturing errors. The resonator can be designed as a ring, but also as a section with circular sections and / or Euler bends.

[0022] An alternative implementation of the resonator can be based on two different waveguide levels and materials. For example, a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide material can be used for the access waveguides and filter systems in combination with a lithium niobate (LN) resonator, which is arranged directly or with a thin silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer on the SiN waveguides. This allows for evanescent coupling in the vertical direction (relative to a surface of the optical arrangement or the photonic integrated circuit).

[0023] Embodiments are conceivable in which two or more (critically coupled) resonators can be used. For example, two gates with the same behavior can be realized with only one implemented component on the optical arrangement if all inputs and outputs are equipped with optical circulators in order to separate incoming and outgoing signals (or light beams) from one another. At least one input can be designed as an output or vice versa. In particular, all inputs can each be designed as an output. In particular, all outputs can each be designed as an input. In other words, at least one access port, in particular all access ports, can have the function of input and output simultaneously.

[0024] This allows the amplifier device to be implemented using simple means. According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can comprise at least one interference device. The interference device can be designed to superimpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle.

[0025] This allows an interference or superposition of two light beams to be achieved using simple means, thus enabling further calculation possibilities of the gate to be implemented.

[0026] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the interference device can comprise at least one first input, at least one second input, and / or at least one output. The first and / or the second input can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the interference device. The output of the interference device can be designed to couple at least one light beam out of the interference device.

[0027] In this way, at least one light beam or at least two light beams can be coupled into or out of the interference device using simple means.

[0028] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can comprise at least one phase adjustment device. The phase adjustment device is designed to adjust the phase of at least one light beam or at least two light beams. This allows the phase of at least one light beam or at least two light beams to be adjusted using simple means, thus implementing the desired interference.

[0029] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the optical arrangement can comprise at least one reducing device. The reducing device can be designed for the adjustable and / or controlled reduction of an intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams. The reducing device can be designed so that it can be switched on or off. In particular, the degree of reduction of the reducing device can be adjusted.

[0030] This allows the intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams to be reduced or adjusted as desired using simple means, so that, in particular, noise can be reduced or a noise-to-signal ratio can be optimized. In particular, the reduction device can be used to set the same intensity of a light beam at both the input and the output of the gate.

[0031] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can be designed as an AND, 0R, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR and / or XNOR gate.

[0032] This allows for the implementation of as many calculation options as possible using simple means. In particular, this allows for the implementation of the most flexible optical arrangement possible. According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can be designed as a logical, digital gate.

[0033] Binary coding can be implemented by an intensity threshold that distinguishes the states 0 (off, below the intensity threshold) and 1 (on, above the intensity threshold). This principle can be extended beyond the binary domain by using multiple thresholds.

[0034] Depending on the state of the respective input (on = light = 1, off = no light = 0) and the interference (depending on the relative phase of the inputs, which is controlled by the phase adjustment device), an output can remain at the same intensity level (on) or fall below an intensity threshold (off), whereby a logical, digital gate can be realized.

[0035] This allows digital calculations in particular to be implemented using simple means.

[0036] According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can be designed as an analog gate.

[0037] This allows, in particular, analog calculations to be implemented using simple means. In addition, nonlinear activation functions can be implemented, for example, for neural networks, particularly via a threshold behavior, with the output intensity depending nonlinearly on the relative phase of the input signals. According to a further development of the optical arrangement, the gate can be designed exclusively as an optical gate.

[0038] This eliminates the need for additional non-optical elements. For example, conversion between optical and electrical signals is no longer necessary.

[0039] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show schematically:

[0040] Fig. 1 shows an optical arrangement with a NOT gate;

[0041] Fig. 2 shows the optical arrangement with an AND gate according to a first embodiment;

[0042] Fig. 3 shows the optical arrangement with an AND gate according to a second embodiment;

[0043] Fig. 4 the optical arrangement with an XOR gate;

[0044] Fig. 5 shows an amplification device according to a first embodiment;

[0045] Fig. 6 shows the amplification device according to a second embodiment; Fig. 7 shows the amplification device according to a third embodiment;

[0046] Fig. 8 shows the optical arrangement with a NOT gate and the amplification device according to Fig. 5;

[0047] Fig. 9 shows the optical arrangement with an AND gate according to a first embodiment and the amplification device according to Fig. 5;

[0048] Fig. 10 shows the optical arrangement with an AND gate according to a second embodiment and the amplification device according to Figure 5 and

[0049] Fig. 11 shows the optical arrangement with an XOR gate and the amplification device according to Figure 5.

[0050] In the following description and in the figures, corresponding components and elements bear the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

[0051] Figures 1 to 4 and 8 to 11 each schematically show an optical arrangement which is designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with at least one gate 12. The gate 12 comprises at least one amplifier device 14. The amplifier device 14 is designed to amplify the intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams. The amplifier device 14 is also designed to superpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle. In other words, in the amplifier device 14, two light beams can interfere with one another and be amplified (more precisely, their intensity can be amplified).

[0052] The photonic integrated circuit 10 and / or the amplifier device 14 can be configured to feed energy into the amplifier device 14 to amplify the intensity of the light beam or beams. This can be implemented using parametric fluorescence. The gain of the amplifier device 14 can, in particular, be adjusted. This can be implemented, for example, using a pump laser beam.

[0053] The amplifier device 14 can have at least one first input 18, at least one second input 20, at least one first output 22 and / or at least one second output 24. The first and / or the second input 18, 20 can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the amplifier device 14. The first and / or the second output 22, 24 can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams out of the amplifier device 14.

[0054] The photonic integrated circuit 10 may include an interference device 26. The interference device 26 may be configured to superimpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle, possibly to generate destructive interference (cancellation) in order to bring the logic 0 value of the gate output as close as possible to an intensity value of 0.

[0055] The interference device 26 can have at least one first input 28, at least one second input 30, and at least one output 32. The first and / or the second input 28, 30 can each be designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the interference device 26. The output 32 can be designed to couple at least one light beam out of the interference device 26.

[0056] The photonic integrated circuit 10 can comprise at least one phase adjustment device 36. The phase adjustment device 36 can be designed to adjust a phase of at least one light beam or at least two light beams. In particular, the relative phase between the first and second inputs of the amplifier device can be adjusted by means of the phase adjustment device 36.

[0057] The photonic integrated circuit 10 may comprise at least one reducing device 38. The reducing device 38 may be configured to adjustably and / or controllably reduce the intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams.

[0058] Gate 12 can be designed as a logical, digital gate. It is also conceivable that gate 12 can be designed as an analog gate. Gate 12 can be designed exclusively as an optical gate.

[0059] The gate 12 can be designed as an AND, 0R, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR and / or XNOR gate.

[0060] Figure 1 shows the optical arrangement embodied as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with a NOT gate. The NOT gate is embodied as a single-bit NOT gate.

[0061] In the present case, the photonic integrated circuit 10 has an amplifier device 14 with a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22 and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two phase adjustment devices 36, which are each arranged at the second input 20 of the amplifier device 14 and the output 32 of the interference device 26. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises an interference device 26 with a first input 28, a second input 30 and an output 32. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two reduction devices 38, which are each arranged at the first and the second output 22, 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0062] In this case, the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 represents the first input 28 of the interference device 26. The first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 and the first input 28 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide. The operation of the NOT gate is described below:

[0063] A constant 1 is applied to the second input 20. With the phase adjustment device 36, which is assigned to the second input 20 or is arranged at the second input 20, the phase of the light beam at the second input 20 is adjusted such that it destructively interferes with the light beam from the first input 18 in the amplifier device 14.

[0064] In this case, "giving" a "1" means that a light beam with an intensity above a certain intensity threshold is coupled in. Similarly, "giving" a "0" means that a light beam with an intensity below a certain intensity threshold is coupled in.

[0065] The gain in the amplifier device 14 can be set so that the loss in the entire system is compensated so that the intensity of a "1" before and after the gate remains the same. A controlled reduction in intensity by destructive interference between the output 32 and the second input 30 of the interference device 26 can be used to increase the contrast between an on and off state, in particular by pulling the "0" state to zero intensity by destructive interference. The output 32 of the interference device 26 functions here as the output of the gate. The second output 24 of the amplifier device 14 is not used here. If a 0 is now applied to the first input 18 of the amplifier device 14, the second input 20 is amplified. The intensity is reduced by means of the reducing device 38 at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14.The intensity thus remains at the intensity originally input at the second input 20 (output intensity). A 1 can be registered or detected accordingly at the output 32.

[0066] If a 1 is applied to the first input 18, the light beam from the first input 18 destructively interferes with the light beam from the second input 20 in the amplification device 14 . Thus, no amplification takes place . Thus, the intensity falls far below the output intensity , which leads to an output state of close to zero . In order to bring this intensity closer to zero and thus the contrast between the input (=1 ) and the output

[0067] (=0) state, additional destructive interference can be introduced. For this purpose, a light beam of suitable intensity can be applied to the second input 30 of the interference device 26.

[0068] The light beam from the second input 30 of the interference device 26 destructively interferes with the light beam at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 or the first input 28 of the interference device 26. This allows an intensity at the output 32 equal to zero or closer to zero to be achieved. In this case, this additional intensity reduction due to destructive interference in the interference device 26 must be taken into account in the amplification (in the gain) in the amplifier device 14, so that the intensity remains constant in the other case (first input 18 = 0).

[0069] This allows the following truth table for the NOT-

[0070] Implement gate:

[0071] Figure 2 schematically shows the optical arrangement embodied as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an AND gate according to a first exemplary embodiment. In this case, it is a two-bit AND gate. The gate comprises the amplifier device 14 with a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22, and a second output 24.

[0072] The photonic integrated circuit 10 comprises two reduction devices 38, each arranged at the first and second outputs 22, 24 of the amplifier device 14. The photonic integrated circuit 10 comprises a phase adjustment device 36, which is arranged at the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0073] The photonic integrated circuit 10 comprises a NOT gate 11. The NOT gate 11 can be the NOT gate shown in Figure 1. The NOT gate 11 is arranged at the second input 20 of the amplifier device 14.

[0074] In the present case, the phases between the first input 18 and the second input 20 (i.e. the relative phase between the two inputs 18, 20) are set such that both inputs 18, 20 interfere destructively in the amplification device 14 (this phase can be set at the output 32 of the NOT gate 11; cf. Figure 1). The gain or the degree of amplification is set in particular such that the (optical) loss in the entire system can be compensated. As described above for the NOT gate 11 according to Figure 1, an additional destructive input can be used for controlled intensity reduction (not shown in Figure 2).

[0075] The operation of the AND gate is described below:

[0076] If a 0 is applied to the first input 18 and the second input 20, the 0 at the second input 20 is inverted (or converted to a 1 and thus "switched on") (due to the NOT gate 11), amplified, and output again with its original intensity at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14. Thus, a 1 can be registered or detected at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 and a 0 at the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0077] If a 0 is applied to the first input 18 and a 1 to the second input 20, the 1 at the second input 20 is inverted (or converted into a 0) (due to the NOT gate 11), no amplification occurs, and the intensity drops below an intensity threshold. Thus, a 0 can be registered or detected at the first output 22 and the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0078] If a 1 is applied to the first input 18 and a 0 to the second input 20, the 0 is inverted (or converted into a 1) (due to the NOT gate 11). Destructive interference occurs in the amplifier device 14, so that no amplification takes place. Since no amplification takes place, the intensity drops below the intensity threshold. Thus, a 0 can be registered or detected at the first output 22 and the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0079] If a 1 is applied to the first input 18 and a 1 to the second input 20, the 1 is inverted (and thus "turned off" or converted to a 0) (due to the NOT gate 11). The 1 from the first input 18 is consequently amplified, with the intensity decreasing due to losses and returning to the original output intensity. Thus, a 0 can be registered or detected at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 and a 1 at the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0080] This allows the following truth table to be implemented for the AND gate, with the second output 24 forming a logical output of the AND gate:

[0081] Figure 3 schematically shows the optical arrangement embodied as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an AND gate according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 in the following:

[0082] In this case, no NOT gate is arranged at the second input 20 of the amplifier device 14. The phase adjustment device 36 is arranged at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14.

[0083] In this case, a threshold amplification behavior is used to implement the AND gate, in which amplification only takes place above a certain intensity threshold.

[0084] Both inputs 18, 20 of the amplifier device 14 interfere constructively in the amplifier device 14. Therefore, no phase adjustment device 36 is required at the first and / or second input 18, 20 (it is assumed that both inputs 18, 20 have the same phase). A threshold value for the gain of the amplifier device is set such that amplification takes place when a 1 is given to both inputs 18, 20. In all other cases, no amplification takes place. The gain is set such that all intensity reductions (losses) can be compensated, in particular when a 1 is given to both inputs 18, 20.

[0085] This allows an AND gate to be implemented between the two inputs 18 and 20. Both outputs 22 and 24 can be identical, so that any choice can be made between the two outputs 22 and 24.

[0086] In addition to the two embodiments of the AND gate described above (Figures 2 and 3), the refreshing / recovery of the optical signals can be realized with two cascaded NOT gates or only within the NOT gate and the AND gate by means of a common 2x2 beam splitter, a phase adjustment device and by utilizing the interference.

[0087] A NOT and an AND gate can be used to create a complete set of logical operations, which can be combined to form an OR gate. The optical gates shown here can be used to construct any logical function.

[0088] Figure 4 shows schematically the optical arrangement designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an XOR gate.

[0089] In the present case, the photonic integrated circuit 10 has an amplifier device 14 with a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22 and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two phase adjustment devices 36, which are each arranged at the second input 20 and the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises an interference device 26 with a first input 28, a second input 30 and an output 32. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two reduction devices 38, which are each arranged at the first and the second output 22, 24 of the amplifier device 14.

[0090] In the present case, the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 represents the second input 30 of the interference device 26. The first output 22 of the amplifier device 14 and the second input 30 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide. In the present case, the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14 represents the first input 28 of the interference device 26. The second output 24 of the amplifier device 14 and the first input 28 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide.

[0091] The operation of the XOR gate is described below:

[0092] By means of the phase adjustment device 36, which is arranged at the second input 20 of the amplifier device 14, the phase at the second input 20 can be adjusted such that destructive interference occurs in the amplifier device 14. The phase adjustment device 36, which is arranged at the first output 22 of the amplifier device 14, corrects the phase again so that the output phase is always the same. The gain of the amplifier device 14 can be adjusted such that it compensates for the intensity reduction (intensity losses) in the overall system.

[0093] If a 0 is applied to the first and second inputs 18, 20, a 0 can also be registered or detected at the output 32.

[0094] If a 0 is applied to the first input 18 and a 1 to the second input 20, the 1 from the second input 20 is amplified in the amplifier device 14 so that a 1 can be registered or detected at the output 32.

[0095] If a 1 is applied to the first input 18 and a 0 to the second input 20, the 1 from the first input 18 is amplified in the amplifier device 14 so that a 1 can be registered or detected at the output 32.

[0096] If a 1 is applied to the first input 18 and to the second input 20, a destructive interference occurs between the two inputs 18, 20 in the amplifier device 14, so that a 0 can be registered or detected at the output 32. This allows the following truth table for the XOR

[0097] Implement gate:

[0098] Figure 5 schematically shows the amplification device 14 according to a first exemplary embodiment. In this case, the amplification device 14 comprises a resonator. The amplification device 14 can be designed as a resonator. The resonator is designed as a ring resonator 16. In this case, the ring resonator 16 comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22 (belonging to input 18), and a second output 24 (belonging to input 20).

[0099] Figure 6 schematically shows the amplification device 14 according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in Figure 5 in the following:

[0100] The amplification device 14 comprises two ring resonators 16 which are optically coupled to one another.

[0101] Figure 7 schematically shows the amplification device 14 according to a third exemplary embodiment. The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 5 in the following way: The ring resonator 16 in this case comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a third input 21, a first output 22, a second output 24 and a third output 25. It is also conceivable that more inputs and / or outputs can be arranged on the ring resonator 16. For this purpose, a corresponding number of waveguides can be optically coupled to the ring resonator 16.

[0102] Figure 8 shows the optical arrangement designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with a NOT gate and the amplification device 14 according to Figure 5 .

[0103] The ring resonator 16 comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22, and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises an interference device 26 with a first input 28, a second input 30, and an output 32. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two phase adjustment devices 36, which are each arranged at the second input 20 of the ring resonator 16 and the output 32 of the interference device 26.

[0104] In the present case, the second output 24 of the amplifier device 14 represents the second input 30 of the interference device 26. The second output 24 of the amplifier device 14 and the second input 30 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide. The output 32 outputs the gate operation. By means of the phase adjustment device 36, which is arranged at the second input 20, the phase can be adjusted such that destructive interference occurs in the ring resonator 16.

[0105] Figure 9 shows schematically the optical arrangement designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an AND gate according to a first embodiment and the amplification device 14 according to Figure 5.

[0106] The ring resonator 16 comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22, and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 here comprises a phase adjustment device 36 arranged at the first output 22 of the ring resonator 16. A NOT gate 13 is arranged at the second input 20 of the ring resonator 16. The NOT gate 13 can be designed as a NOT gate according to Figure 1 or according to Figure 8.

[0107] The phase can be adjusted to cause destructive interference in the ring resonator 16. The inputs 18, 20 of the ring resonator 16 can only generate constructive interference if a 1 is applied to the first input and a 0 to the second input, resulting in amplification, so that a 1 results at the first output 22 of the ring resonator 16. All other cases result in a 0 at the first output 22 of the ring resonator 16.

[0108] Figure 10 shows schematically the optical arrangement designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an AND gate according to a second embodiment and the amplification device 14 according to Figure 5.

[0109] The ring resonator 16 comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22, and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises a phase adjustment device 36 arranged at the second output 24 of the ring resonator 16.

[0110] Here, a threshold amplification in the ring resonator 16 can be used (see above).

[0111] Figure 11 shows schematically the optical arrangement designed as a photonic integrated circuit 10 with an XOR gate and the amplification device 14 according to Figure 5.

[0112] The ring resonator 16 comprises a first input 18, a second input 20, a first output 22, and a second output 24. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises an interference device 26 with a first input 28, a second input 30, and an output 32. The photonic integrated circuit 10 in the present case comprises two phase adjustment devices 36, which are each arranged at the second input 20 and the second output 24 of the ring resonator 16.

[0113] In the present case, the second output 24 of the ring resonator 16 represents the first input 28 of the interference device 26. The second output 24 of the ring resonator 16 and the first input 28 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide. In the present case, the first output 22 of the ring resonator 16 represents the second input 30 of the interference device 26. The first output 22 of the ring resonator 16 and the second input 30 of the interference device 26 are optically coupled to one another, in particular by means of the same waveguide.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Optical arrangement, in particular a photonic integrated circuit (10), with at least one gate (12), wherein the gate (12) comprises at least one amplifier device (14), wherein the amplifier device (14) is designed to amplify an intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams and to superimpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle.

2. Optical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical arrangement and / or the amplifier device (14) are arranged to feed energy, in particular by means of parametric fluorescence, into the amplifier device (14) for amplifying the intensity of the light beam or beams.

3. Optical arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the amplifier device (14) comprises at least one first input (18), at least one second input (20), at least one first output (22) and / or at least one second output (24), wherein the first and / or the second input (18, 20) are each designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the amplifier device (14), wherein the first and / or the second output (22, 24) are each designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams out of the amplifier device (14).

4. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amplifier device (14) comprises at least one resonator, in particular a ring resonator (16) , or is designed as a resonator, in particular a ring resonator (16).

5. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (12) comprises at least one interference device (26), wherein the interference device (26) is designed to superimpose at least two light beams according to the superposition principle.

6. Optical arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interference device (26) comprises at least one first input (28), at least one second input (30) and / or at least one output (32), wherein the first and / or the second input (28, 30) are each designed to couple at least one light beam or at least two light beams into the interference device (26), wherein the output (32) is designed to couple at least one light beam out of the interference device (26).

7. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (12) comprises at least one phase adjustment device (36), wherein the phase adjustment device (36) is designed to adjust a phase of at least one light beam or at least two light beams.

8. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical arrangement (10) at least one reducing device (38), wherein the reducing device (38) is designed to adjustably reduce the intensity of at least one light beam or at least two light beams.

9. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (12) is designed as an AND, 0R, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR and / or XNOR gate.

10. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (12) is designed as a logical, digital gate.

11. Optical arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the gate (12) is designed as an analog gate.

12. Optical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (12) is designed exclusively as an optical gate.

Images