NANOSECOND IMAGE-PROCESSING USING STIMULATED PHOTON-ECHOES

Processing of two-dimensional images on a nanosecond time scale is demonstrated using the stimulated photon echoes in a rare-earth-doped crystal (0.1 at. % Pr3+:LaF3). Two spatially encoded laser pulses (pictures) resonant with the 3P03H4 transition of Pr3+ were stored by focusing the image pulses sequentially into the Pr3+:LaF3 crystal. The stored information is retrieved and processed by a third read pulse, generating the echo that is the spatial convolution or correlation of the input images. Application of this scheme to high-speed pattern recognition is discussed. © 1990 Optical Society of America.