Current electronic digital computers cannot operate at rates necessary to accomplish real-time image processing, artificial intelligence radar processing, simulated neural networks and other computation intensive problems for strategic defense applications. All-optical digital computing (AODC) has the potential to become the ultimate computing technology for speed and throughput in such applications. An optically addressed bistable switching device is an element of a multivalued logic (MVL) AODC. Besides the advantages of light as the signal medium, the table layout of the device is utilizable as an MVL operation table. While it is known that MVL as opposed to binary logic, allows enhanced logic density and decreased interconnect requirements for electronic computers, electronic computing is mostly binary because there are no true electronic MVL devices. An AODC device is a true MVL device. The feasibility and utility of a MVL AODC concept are being evaluated. Various MVL orders are being evaluated for the special advantages of high logic density and information content per interconnect and relative speed. Free space interconnect methods are being evaluated by digital simulation of the reflective diffractive optical element to determine size parameters. The conceptual design for a prototype MVL AODC demonstration module is being developed including consideration of input/output and device control.
