Modeling and simulation methodology for digital optical computing systems.

Area of Science:

• Digital optical computing
• System modeling and simulation

Background:

• Optical computing architectures require robust methodologies for performance prediction and feasibility assessment.
• Existing methods may not provide a holistic view of system performance, leading to design risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a comprehensive modeling and simulation methodology for digital optical computing systems.
• To evaluate the feasibility and predict the maximum performance of optical computing architectures.
• To reduce design time and mitigate risks in developing optical computing prototypes.

Main Methods:

• The methodology involves two phases: analytical studies of design parameters and simulation using GLAD software.
• Phase one analyzes effects of crosstalk, beam diameter, and pitch on signal packing density and skew time.
• Phase two uses GLAD to simulate combined effects of error rate, bit rate, power efficiency, and signal contrast on performance parameters like misalignment tolerance.

Main Results:

• The methodology provides a realistic representation of laboratory prototypes by examining the system as a whole, not component-by-component.
• Application to an optical content-addressable parallel processor demonstrates its effectiveness in performance prediction and feasibility evaluation.
• Identified key design and performance parameters influencing the overall system's success.

Conclusions:

• The presented methodology offers a significant advancement in the design and evaluation of digital optical computing systems.
• It enables more accurate performance prediction and feasibility assessment, crucial for complex optical architectures.
• The approach is expected to streamline the development process and lower the risks associated with building physical prototypes.