Most digital optical computing systems are based on 2-dimensional pipelined structures. The regularity adopted for both the logic and interconnections at each stage lends itself to use in cellular applications. Here, the outcome of cells in a stage is dependent upon their current state and that of their nearest neighbours. An application suited to such a structure is interconnection routing based on Lee's algorithm. This project involves seeing how this algorithm could be mapped on to a prototype optical architecture based on 4-to-1 multiplexers, and to assess its suitability for an optical rather than electronic solution.

References:
1. A. Warden, M.Sc. Thesis, University of Manchester, 1993
2. C. Y. Lee, IRE Trans. on Elec. Comp., p346, 1961