All-optical logic elements based on distributively coupled waveguides exhibiting nonlinear absorption

An analysis is made of the principle of operation and of the properties of controlled (by picosecond optical signals) logic elements intended for ultrafast computers. It is shown that the use of two distributively coupled waveguides, when the attenuation in one of them decreases on increase in the intensity of a wave propagating in it, makes it possible to improve greatly the circuit characteristics of such logic elements compared with similar known resonator-free and resonator elements.