Logical operations with localized structures

Abstract

We show how to use excitable regimes mediated by localized structures (LSs) to perform AND, OR and NOT logical operations providing full logical functionality. Our scheme is general and can be implemented in any physical system displaying LSs. In particular, LSs in nonlinear photonic devices can be used for all-optical computing applications where several reconfigurable logic gates can be implemented in the transverse plane of a single device, allowing for parallel computing. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.