Demonstration of an All-Optical AND Gate Mediated by Photochromic Molecules

Abstract The realization of a photonic logic AND gate, i.e. a logic AND gate that runs on photons rather than electrons, and where all steps are controlled by light, is demonstrated. In a proof-of-principle experiment, this is accomplished by exploiting photochromic molecules for monitoring the presence or absence of photons of particular wavelengths that represent the logic variables.