A Coherent Optical Computer System Using the Membrane Light Modulator

A 32-input coherent optical computer system is described which is driven by a membrane Light modulator (MLM). The MLM has an active area of 4 by 4 mm containing a 32 by 74 array of 2368 38-pm diameter light modulating elements. The optical computer calculates the one-dimensional Fourier transform over 32 points of a phase function in 1 ?s. Both the theoretical and actual operating characteristics of the computer are presented.