A source on the rapidly changing field of optical computing. Readers are taken through the relevant concepts of classical and Fourier optics, digital logic and digital image processing. In addition to exploration of the basic principles, it applies the characteristics of both all-optical and electro-optic devices/systems to the solution of optical computing. Additional discussions focus on analog optical computing, digital logic and digital optical computing. Exercise problems, up-to-date references and further reading resources complete the book.

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

While there are books treating individual topics contained in this book, this will be the first single volume providing a cohesive treatment on this subject as a whole. This goes beyond optical communications in that it includes related topics such as sensing, displays, computing, and data storage.

Quantum information processing offers fundamental improvements over classical information processing, such as computing power, secure communication, and high-precision measurements. However, the best way to create practical devices is not yet known. This textbook describes the techniques that are likely to be used in implementing optical quantum information processors. After developing the fundamental concepts in quantum optics and quantum information theory, the book shows how optical systems can be used to build quantum computers according to the most recent ideas. It discusses implementations based on single photons and linear optics, optically controlled atoms and solid-state systems, atomic ensembles, and optical continuous variables. This book is ideal for graduate students beginning research in optical quantum information processing. It presents the most important techniques of the field using worked examples and over 120 exercises.

This volume surveys the entire field of optical computing. The emphasis is on breadth of coverage. The book is descriptive, the authors minimize the use of mathematics, and it is therefore most suitable for those who require an overall view of what is going on in this field. A detailed comparison is given of the capabilities of electronics and optics, and the degree to which these capabilities have been achieved is indicated. Other areas of focus include optical computing architectures, components and technologies, optical interconnects, and optical neural nets. Approximately 300 references to key works in the field are included.