All-optical signal processing in photonic structures with nonlinearity

A principal scheme for an all-optical adder based on the dependence of electromagnetic spectra in photonic bandgap materials containing optically nonlinear layers on the light signal intensity is proposed. The photonic structure behavior with changing intensity is investigated for a system consisting of a periodically layered structure covered with optically nonlinear material. Theoretical estimations of adder cell parameters are made for Si/SiO2 photonic crystals covered with layers made from nonlinear materials. Furthermore, the adder design is discussed.