All-optical 3-input OR and 2-input AND/NIMPLY logic gates in a linear planar three-core optical fiber coupler

Abstract

Most all-optical logic processing devices reported in the literature rely on nonlinear effects to achieve logical discrimination, which typically results in increased implementation complexity, higher optical power requirements, and limited scalability over larger optical circuits. Here, we present the numerical modeling and analysis of two all-optical logic gates based on a fully linear, dispersion-free planar symmetric three-core optical fiber coupler. The proposed devices operate with low-powered amplitude-modulated pulses and require no nonlinear materials, material doping, or optoelectronic components. By exploiting only the fiber geometry and coupled-mode theory, we demonstrate two logic processing functionalities: a 3-input OR gate and a configurable gate that performs either the AND or the NIMPLY operation based on a control signal. Logical discrimination is measured using a contrast-based performance metric, showing clear separation between logic levels for all input combinations. The simplicity of the proposed linear structure, combined with its scalability and compatibility with different fiber technologies, favor compact implementation and integration into larger photonic signal processing and optical computing systems.