Compact all-optical interferometric logic gates based on one-dimensional metal–insulator–metal structures

Abstract The whole set of fundamental all-optical logic gates is realized theoretically using a multi-channel configuration based on one-dimensional (1D) metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structures by leveraging the linear interference between surface plasmon polariton modes. The working principle and conditions for different logic functions are analyzed and demonstrated numerically by means of the finite element method. In contrast to most of the previous studies that require more than one type of configuration to achieve different logic functions, a single geometry with fixed physical dimensions can realize all fundamental functions in our case studies. It is shown that by switching the optical signals to different input channels, the presented device can realize simple logic functions such as OR, AND and XOR. By adding signal in the control channel, more functions including NOT, XNOR, NAND and NOR can be implemented. For these considered logic functions, high intensity contrast ratios between Boolean logic states “1” and “0” can be achieved at the telecom wavelength. The presented all-optical logic device is simple, compact and efficient. Moreover, the proposed scheme can be applied to many other nano-photonic logic devices as well, thereby potentially offering useful guidelines for their designs and further applications in on-chip optical computing and optical interconnection networks.