Applications of computer generated, free-space diffractive optics from interconnections and packaging to optical wireless antennas

The paper reviews the applications that have arisen for diffractive optics within the field of telecommunications and the practical results obtained from elements made for these purposes. The applications covered started from the use of Fourier holograms to generate arrays of beams, for the purpose of optical interconnections. The arrays could be of uniform intensity, could form a simple weighted pattern for a neural network matrix-vector multiplier, or even a more complex weighted fan out for a matrix-matrix multiplier