Optical processing of banded matrix algorithms using outer product concepts (Q1104038)

A modified outer product processor is proposed for the implementation of banded matrix algorithms, i.e. triangularization of a matrix, direct solution of linear systems of equations and matrix inversion; all based on the Gaussian elimination algorithm. The modified optical processor requires less and simpler hardware, it is size-independent, requires no preloading of the full matrix but it works with the `active window' of the matrix, defined as the elements that are currently being involved in the computation.