Arithmetic logic unit based on the metastructure with coherent absorption

Abstract

An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) based on the metastructure (MS) with coherent absorption (CA) is proposed in this Letter. The ALU can perform AND and exclusive OR logical operations at the same frequency point. So it can be regarded as an optical half-adder. By controlling the chemical potential of graphene and the phase difference of coherent electromagnetic waves (EWs), two different binary numbers are input into the ALU. The dynamic absorption peaks, which are generated based on the CA, output the outcomes of the carry-digit bit and non-carry sum bit. This ALU can be used in the field of optical processing and encryption, such as processing hamming code. This given ALU based on the MS with CA has major implications for advancing the study and investigation into the application of CA. Furthermore, it also provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, idea for the study of MS with logical operation.