Sample interview questions: Can you discuss your knowledge of the principles behind optical computing using photorefractive materials?
Sample answer:
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Photorefractive Effect:
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Photorefractive materials exhibit a change in refractive index when exposed to light.
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This change is due to the generation of space-charge fields within the material, which arise from the photo-excitation of charge carriers.
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The photorefractive effect can be used to store and process information by modulating the light intensity and/or polarization.
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Advantages of Photorefractive Materials for Optical Computing:
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Large nonlinearity: Photorefractive materials exhibit a strong nonlinear response to light, allowing for efficient optical processing.
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Fast response time: The photorefractive effect can occur on ultrafast timescales, enabling high-speed optical computing.
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Non-volatile storage: Photorefractive materials can store information in a non-volatile manner, meaning that the information is retained even after the light source is removed.
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Spatial multiplexing: Photorefractive materials can be used to implement spatial multiplexing, allowing for the simultaneous processing of multiple data streams.
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Applications of Photorefractive Materials in Optical C… Read full answer