Nonlinear optical devices: basic elements of a future optical digital computer?

It is shown that nonlinear optical devices are the most promising elements for an optical digital supercomputer. The basic characteristics of various developed nonlinear elements are presented, including bistable Fabry–Perot etalons, interference filters, self-electrooptic effect devices, quantum-well devices utilizing transitions between the lowest electron states in the conduction band of GaAs, etc.