This book presents the principles, experimental technologies, up-to-date research findings and applications of various optical-computing technologies and devices. It also discusses semiconductor multiple quantum well (MQW) photoelectronic devices, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), lasers, micro optical elements and diffractive optical elements, optical storage, optical parallel interconnections, and optical-buffer technology as the main technologies for optical computing. Furthermore, it explores the potential of optical-computing technology. It offers those involved in optical design, photonics, and photoelectronic research and related industries insights into the fundamentals and theories of optical computing, enabling them and to extend and develop the functions of fundamental elements to meet the requirement of optical-computing systems.

Optical Computers provides the first in-depth review of the possibilities and limitations of optical data processing.

How does the field of optical engineering impact biotechnology? Perhaps for the first time, Applied Optics Fundamentals and Device Applications: Nano, MOEMS, and Biotechnology answers that question directly by integrating coverage of the many disciplines and applications involved in optical engineering, and then examining their applications in nanobiotechnology. Written by a senior U.S. Army research scientist and pioneer in the field of optical engineering, this book addresses the exponential growth in materials, applications, and cross-functional relevance of the many convergent disciplines making optical engineering possible, including nanotechnology, MEMS, (MOEMS), and biotechnology. Integrates Coverage of MOEMS, Optics, and Nanobiotechnology—and Their Market Applications Providing an unprecedented interdisciplinary perspective of optics technology, this book describes everything from core principles and fundamental relationships, to emerging technologies and practical application of devices and systems—including fiber-optic sensors, integrated and electro-optics, and specialized military applications. The author places special emphasis on: Fiber sensor systems Electro-optics and acousto-optics Optical computing and signal processing Optical device performance Thin film magnetic memory MEMS, MOEMS, nano- and bionanotechnologies Optical diagnostics and imaging Integrated optics Design constraints for materials, manufacturing, and application space Bridging the technology gaps between interrelated fields, this reference is a powerful tool for students, engineers and scientists in the electrical, chemical, mechanical, biological, aerospace, materials, and optics fields. Its value also extends to applied physicists and professionals interested in the relationships between emerging technologies and cross-disciplinary opportunities. Author Mark A. Mentzer is a pioneer in the field of optical engineering. He is a senior research scientist at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Maryland. Much of his current work involves extending the fields of optical engineering and solid state physics into the realm of biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as structured research in biophotonics.

Optics is entering all phases of computer technology. By providing new research and ideas, it brings the reader up to date on how and why optics is likely to be used in next generation computers and at the same time explains the unique advantage optics enjoys over conventional electronics and why this trend will continue. Covered are basic optical concepts such as mathematical derivations, optical devices for optical computing, optical associative memories, optical interconnections, and optical logic. Also suggested are a number of research activities that are reinforcing the trend toward optics in computing, including neural networks, the software crisis, highly parallel computation, progress in new semiconductors, the decreasing cost of laser diodes, communication industry investments in fiber optics, and advances in optical devices. Exercises, solutions sets, and examples are provided.

The main aim of this book is to introduce the concept of photonic information processing technologies to the graduate and post-graduate students, researchers, engineers and scientists. It is expected to give the readers an insight into the concepts of photonic techniques of processing as a system, the photonic devices as required components which are applied in the areas of communication, computation and intelligent pattern recognition.

In recent years, Moore's law has fostered the steady growth of the field of digital image processing, though the computational complexity remains a problem for most of the digital image processing applications. In parallel, the research domain of optical image processing has matured, potentially bypassing the problems digital approaches were suffering and bringing new applications. The advancement of technology calls for applications and knowledge at the intersection of both areas but there is a clear knowledge gap between the digital signal processing and the optical processing communities. This book covers the fundamental basis of the optical and image processing techniques by integrating contributions from both optical and digital research communities to solve current application bottlenecks, and give rise to new applications and solutions. Besides focusing on joint research, it also aims at disseminating the knowledge existing in both domains. Applications covered include image restoration, medical imaging, surveillance, holography, etc... "a very good book that deserves to be on the bookshelf of a serious student or scientist working in these areas." Source: Optics and Photonics News

This book is an introduction to the two closely related subjects of quantum optics and quantum information. The book gives a simple, self-contained introduction to both subjects, while illustrating the physical principles of quantum information processing using quantum optical systems. To make the book accessible to those with backgrounds other than physics, the authors also include a brief review of quantum mechanics. Furthermore, some aspects of quantum information, for example those pertaining to recent experiments on cavity QED and quantum dots, are described here for the first time in book form.