Amplitude controlled electromagnetic pulse switching using waveguide junctions for high-speed computing processes

Abstract

Performing computational tasks with wave-based devices is becoming a groundbreaking paradigm that can open new opportunities for the next generation of efficient analogue and digital computing systems. Decision-making processes for switching and routing of signal is fundamental for computing as it enables the transfer of information from one to many (or single) blocks within a system. Here, we propose and demonstrate a technique for the design of pulse-based switching devices for the computing of fundamental decision-making processes. In our technique, we encode information from multiple channels as transverse electromagnetic (TEM) pulses of varying amplitudes and polarities propagating through interconnected parallel plate waveguides modelled as simple transmission lines. An in-depth description of our technique is presented showing how switching and routing of information can be engineered by correctly exploiting the linear splitting and superposition of multiple pulses traveling through waveguide junctions. To demonstrate the potential of our technique for computing, we develop two devices: a comparator which can calculate the largest value between two real-valued numbers and a pulse director which exploits the reciprocity of waveguide junctions to create a similar yet different performance of a traditional AND gate (emulating its performance via our analogue linear system). These findings may open new pathways and possibilities for high-speed electromagnetic pulse-based computing systems.