Methods of and systems for encoding and decoding a beam of light utilizing nonlinear organic signal processors

Abstract

An audio optical processor unit employing a nonlinear organic optical element which may be in the form of a nonlinear polymer, a nonlinear organic material or a mixture of liquid crystal materials or polymers. The nonlinear organic optical element is interfaced by a piezo-electric crystal which encodes a laser beam passing through the optical element by inducing changes in the index of refraction or the changes in voltage potential across the polymer or non-linear organic material. The resulting encoded output is detected in a conventional manner by a photodetector array.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of encoding a beam of light comprising the steps of passing coherent, monochromatic light through an optical body of nonlinear organic material while controlling the diffraction of said light so as to produce an encoded or decoded optical output. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear organic material is a material selected from the group consisting of: Cyanine dyes;   2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA);   Indanchrones;   Stilbenes;   Pyridine N-oxides;   2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-(p-nitrophenyl)-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bis-thiazole (DNBT);   2-(4-(dimethyl-amino)phenyl)-5-nitrobenzoxazole.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the diffraction of said light is caused by periodic changes in the refractive index of said nonlinear organic material which result from the transmission of acoustic waves generated by a piezo-electric crystal. 
     
     
       4. A method of encoding a beam of light comprising the steps of passing coherent, monochromatic light through an optical body of nonlinear organic material while controlling the diffraction of said light so as to produce an encoded or decoded optical output, wherein the diffraction of said light is caused by periodic changes in the refractive index of said nonlinear organic material which result from the transmission of acoustic waves generated by a piezo-electric crystal, and the piezo-electric crystal interfaces directly with the nonlinear body. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, wherein the beam of light is modulated by an audio input applied through the nonlinear organic material via the piezo-electric crystal. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5, wherein the piezo-electric crystal is controlled by a digital input control signal.