Abstract
A gradual transition from electrical to optical networks is
accompanying the rapid progress of telecommunication technology.
The urge for enhanced transmission capacity and speed is
dictating this trend. In fact, large volumes of data encoded on optical
signals can be transported rapidly over long distances. Their
propagation along specific routes across a communication network is
ensured by a combination of optical fibers and optoelectronic switches.
It is becoming apparent, however, that the interplay between the
routing electrical stimulations and the traveling optical signals will
not be able to support the terabit-per-second capacities that will be
needed in the near future. Electrical inputs cannot handle the immense
parallelism potentially possible with optical signals. Operating
principles to control optical signals with optical signals must
be developed. Molecular and supramolecular switches are promising
candidates for the realization of innovative materials for information
technology. Binary digits can be encoded in their chemical, electrical,
or optical inputs and outputs to execute specific logic functions. We
have developed a simple strategy to gate optical signals with optical
signals by using a photoactive molecular switch. We have demonstrated
that NAND, NOR, and NOT operations can be implemented exclusively with
optical inputs and optical outputs coupling from one to three switching
elements. Our remarkably simple approach to all-optical switching might
lead to the development of a new generation of devices for digital
processing and communication technology.
