An optical implementation of adaptive resonance utilizing phase conjugation

Abstract

A novel adaptive resonance (ART) device has been conceived that is fully optical in the input-output processing path. This device is based on holographic information processing in a phase-conjugating crystal. This sets up an associative pattern retrieval in a resonating loop utilizing angle-multiplexed reference beams for pattern classification. A reset mechanism is used to reject any given beam, allowing an ART search strategy. The design is similar to an existing non-learning optical associative memory, but does allow learning and makes use of information the other device discards. This new device is expected to offer higher information storage density than alternative ART implementations.