Optical logic inverter and and elements using laser or light-emitting diodes and photodetectors in a bistable system

Fundamental optical digital data-processing functions of optical inverter and optical AND elements are proposed and demonstrated experimentally for the first reported time using light-emitting diodes and a photodetector in a hybrid optoelectronic bistable system. The inherent simplicity of these bistable optical devices that use either a laser or a light-emitting diode should make it possible to realize these optical logic functions by monolithic optoelectronic integration. Specific integration schemes are also proposed, and future interesting and useful applications are discussed.