Integrated electro-optic Bragg processors for digital real-time signal processing

The use of a digital integrated optical convolver for real-time signal-processing applications is proposed and analyzed. In this approach a series of time-delayed signals is applied to a large group of individually addressable electro-optic Bragg gratings. The delays are adjusted to provide the digital equivalent to a variable-wavelength traveling index wave. A modification of the theory of analog Bragg diffraction is developed that includes the effects of discrete spatial sampling in the convolution and correlation process. The theory is extended to include both continuous-time and sampled-time inputs.