Abstract
A programmable optical resonator is one in which a hologram assumes the role of one of the mirrors of an ordinary optical resonator. A holographic recording medium allows the optical electric field eigenmodes of the resonator to be user-defined. Interest in this kind of resonator stems from their potential as associative optical memories. When the holographic medium is a photorefractive or other real-time recording medium, the resonator can learn, recall, and forget programmed information. Recall is achieved by placing a gain medium, such as an externally pumped photorefractive crystal, inside the resonator. The gain medium excites eigenmodes of the resonator. Using LiNbO3 as the recording medium and pumped BaTiO3 as the gain medium we have been able to store and recall complicated images as eigenmodes of a resonator.
© 1986 Optical Society of America
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