Optical processor

A method comprising:

• configuring a configurable programmed holographic structure to route at least a portion of an optical signal between at least one chosen first optical port and at least one chosen second optical port, the configurable programmed holographic structure comprising a set of diffractive elements and at least one optical port;
• receiving via an input optical port at least one optical signal into the configurable programmed holographic structure;
• routing at least a portion of the optical signal between the input optical port and an output optical port;
• and
• providing, at the output optical port, the routed portion of the optical signal as an output optical signal,
• wherein:
• the diffractive elements of the set are collectively arranged, after configuring, so as to comprise temporal, spectral, or spatial transformation information,
• each diffractive element of the set is individually contoured and positioned, alter configuring, so as to reflectively image at least a portion of the optical signal between the first optical port and the second optical port as the optical signal propagates within the holographic structure,
• the diffractive element set transforms, after configuring, the imaged portion of the optical signal into the output optical signal according to the transformation information as the optical signals propagate within the holographic structure between the input optical port and the output optical port.

A method comprising:

• applying energy in a time-varying manner to a configurable programmed holographic structure comprising a set of diffractive elements and at least one optical port, the diffractive elements of the set collectively defining a set of program characteristics, at least one of which varies with energy applied to the configurable programmed holographic structure, thereby varying the set of program characteristics in a time-varying manner;
• receiving an input optical signal via an input port into the configurable programmed holographic structure, the input optical signal interacting with the diffractive element set of the configurable programmed holographic structure, thereby producing a modulated optical signal that is modulated in a time-varying manner;
• and
• providing the modulated optical signal at an output port,
• wherein:
• each diffractive element of the set is individually contoured and positioned so as to reflectively image at least a portion of the input optical signal between the input port and the output port as the input optical signal propagates within the holographic structure,
• the diffractive element set transforms the imaged portions of the input optical signal into the modulated optical signal according to the time-varying set of program characteristics as the optical signals propagate within the optical medium between the input port and the output port.

A method comprising:

• receiving an input optical signal via an input optical port into a configurable programmed holographic structure comprising a set of diffractive elements and at least one optical port, the diffractive elements of the set collectively defining a set of program characteristics and a proper operating wavelength range, the input optical signal interacting with the configurable programmed holographic structure;
• directing the input optical signal to interact with the configurable programmed holographic structure, producing an output optical signal having an output power at an output optical port;
• directing the output optical signal onto a power measurement device;
• and
• modifying the program characteristics of the configurable programmed holographic structure to maximize the output power, as measured by the power measurement device,
• wherein:
• each diffractive element of the set is individually contoured and positioned so as to reflectively image at least a portion of the input optical signal between the input port and the output port as the input optical signal propagates within the holographic structure,
• the diffractive element set transforms the imaged portions of the input optical signal into the output optical signal according to the set of program characteristics as the optical signals propagate within the optical medium between the input port and the output port.