The proposed work is a theoretical investigation into the optical wave properties and potential novel utilization of crystals having holographically recorded patterns. These aspects will be considered from the perspective of applications requiring large information capacities, such as optical interconnects and switches, optical data processing and computing elements, neural nets, and other. In particular, the electromagnetic field interactions that take place inside such crystals will be explored in order to: (a) characterize and evaluate the actual scattered fields produced by predetermined patterns, (b) investigate various effects that distort the desired form of such scattered fields, (c) assess the intrinsic limitations of the scattering mechanism, and (d) formulate optimal conditions for achieving optical processes of specific interest. For this purpose, the projected study will employ suitable canonic models of crystals containing patterns in the form of superposed gratings. These will be examined by a recently developed technique, which views the pertinent multiple scattering problem in terms of Feynman diagrams that were modified and expressed as flow graphs. By further extending and then applying this approach, accurate information on the complexity of the diffracted field will be derived. In turn, this information will be used to obtain qualitative and quantitative data on practical effects such as crosstalk interference, signal degradation due to crystal imperfections, realizable dynamic range of operation, deleterious effects due to interface boundaries, and other performance facets of relevant optical applications.
