<title>Optical Digital Processing Of Two-Dimensional Digital Data</title>

Abstract

The parallel processing of digital data in two-dimensional page form using holographic techniques is discussed. The Boolean logic operations of AND, OR, EXCLUSIVE OR, and COMPLEMENT are shown to be possible in a single holographic cycle. All bits on one binary data page are operated on with the corresponding bits on a second page. Single-step processors using unchangeable recording materials have numerous applications. Multiple-step processors using continuously-changeable recording materials allow further computing power including the construction of the other Boolean logic operations and arithmetic operations. This type of optical processing may be particularly important for the construction of parallel associative processors.