Optical Bistability

This volume surveys the enormous potential of the phenomenon of optical bistability in the development of a new and large range of all-optical devices. Predictions have been made of all-optimal signal processing in association with optical communications; multiplexing and demultiplexing using bistable optical switches; parallel optical processing of either coherent or incoherent optical images without intermediary electronics by using two-dimensional bistable arrays, and all-optical computer circuitry - photonic logic - operating at speeds perhaps one thousand times that of machines based on electronic switches.