A multiple-valued logic synthesis tool for optical computing elements

Optical computing elements offer benefits over traditional CMOS-based electronic logic gates such as increased performance and reduced power. Using polarization to encode the information to be processed allows for the possibility of non-binary switching theory to be applied that further offers the benefit of reducing the number of required elements in an optical computing circuit. A methodology for synthesizing non-binary optical computing circuits is described and experimental results are provided that justify the approach.