All-optical Switch Actuated by Optical Data

"All-optical switches capable of rapidly switching light with light are needed for missile defense in the Airborne-Laser, Space-Based Laser and Space-Based Infrared System as well as in Big Safari special mission aircraft. While the commercial and militaryusefulness of optical-electrical-optical switches for security, recognition and switching applications is well established, these devices are slow, large, expensive and require radiation hardening. A revolutionary new technology, a Surface PlasmonResonance Induced Gate (SPRIG), is proposed which combines a planar geometry suitable for optical parallel data processing with solid state optical switches which are ultrafast and capable of switching visible through IR light with very small energyexpense. By the end of the project, prototype SPRIGs will be fabricated, tested and delivered to DoD. These prototype optical switches will contain no electronic connections and be suitable for optical-optical parallel data processing."