Modelling and Simulation of Alloptical Gates Using Photonic Crystals
Prof. Dr. Sahar Ahmed El-Naggar, Assoc. Prof. Mina Danial Asham, Assoc. Prof. Ibrahim Sayed Ahmed Ibrahim
This thesis presents research on designing, modelling, and simulating all-optical logic gates (AOLGs) utilizing photonic crystals (PHCs) to meet the growing demand for high-speed, energy-efficient computing in the digital age. As traditional electronic circuits face limitations such as heat generation, signal degradation, and bandwidth constraints, optical computing emerges as a promising alternative .The study focuses on two-dimensional photonic crystals—engineered structures capable of precisely controlling light propagation via photonic band gaps. It explores various implementation techniques for AOLGs, categorizing them into waveguided and non-waveguided approaches. Notably, the interference-based defect method is emphasized as the primary technique due to its simplicity and effectiveness in achieving desired logic functions .In this thesis, we employ the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to establish a detailed simulation framework for analysing the optical behaviour of the designed gates. Key performance metrics, including contrast ratio, output power, and response time, are evaluated under different conditions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of constructing compact logic gates—such as AND, OR, NOR, NAND, XOR, and XNOR—with dimensions as small as 4 µm × 4 µm .Key findings reveal that the proposed AOLGs can achieve significant contrast ratios, ranging from 4 to 8.36 dB, ensuring clear differentiation between logic states, and response times as low as 60 femtoseconds. These characteristics highlight the suitability of the developed structures for high-speed optical applications in telecommunications and data processing.Overall, this work provides a comprehensive framework for designing and simulating photonic crystal-based AOLGs. The successful demonstration of interference-based logic gates showcases the potential of photonic systems to overcome the limitations of electronic circuits and sets the stage for future developments in integrated optical computing. The findings position photonic crystals as a transformative technology for scalable, high-performance data processing.
Photonic crystals, all-optical logic gates, TE and TM polarization, compact size
Banha university
Egypt
