# Multipath Data Storage by Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties in Zinc Oxide Nanostructures
## 1 Introduction  
All-optical interconnection among objects corresponds to a fascinating area of data research considering the imminent evolution of the speed in random uniform functions. Ubiquitous sensing technologies seem to be potentially enabled by ultrafast communications that may be associated with nonlinear optical phenomena. The challenge of transferring information by nonlinear optical signals in general involves high irradiance laser systems interacting with advanced materials [1]. In this respect, light controlled by light must be ascribed to a powerful enhancement in electromagnetic effects with the assistance of multiphotonic processes [2]. Third-order nonlinear optical properties present a strong dependence on morphology and structure of nanomaterials [3]. Highly transparent nanoparticles embedded in diverse dielectrics have been proposed as good candidates for designing nonlinear optical modulating systems [4]. However, zinc oxide materials represent an excellent alternative in regards to their optical characteristics, electronic properties and high transparency in nanostructured form [5]. ZnO nanostructures have been useful as a powerful tool in electronics [6], nanomedicine [7], optical communications [8], bioinspired systems [9] and actuators [10]. Their ultraviolet band gap may be particularly useful for developing quantum and single-photon devices [11]. Thin solid films build up by ZnO doped with metals are considered an important option to synthetize nanostructures with controlled size and shape. Particularly, monometallic nanoparticles correspond to a Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance phenomenon that derives in a sharp selective optical response. However, it is worth mentioning that metals in nanocluster form may correspond to proto-plasmonic effects not observed in the optical absorption spectrum but with implications for the enhancement of third-order optical nonlinearities [12]. Nanoscale optical effects are responsible for an outstanding topic in sensing, signal processing and decision making [13]. In addition to the parameters of irradiance and wavelength, the polarization of light also represents a clear influence on the coupling and modulation of nanoscopic phenomena [14]. It can be considered that the optical Kerr effect and the nonlinear optical absorption should be strong to be useful in many practical applications. The participation of multicomponent nanostructures can be considered a solution for tailoring multifunctional systems able to perform synergistic effects and resonance conditions in two or more wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum [15]. In order to improve the third-order nonlinear optical properties exhibited by ZnO nanostructures, different volume fractions of ZnO with different elements have been proposed [16]. A fundamental key for enhancing the third-order optical effects is the relation between area and volume in hybrid nanocomposites. Remarkably, the preparation method involved in the synthesis of metal doped ZnO seems to determine specific characteristics exhibited by the samples in thin film form [17]. Diverse studies have reported the potential of nonlinear optical properties exhibited by ZnO nanocomposites in all-optical switching [18] and imaging [19]. It has been pointed out that the integration of nonlinear optics and quantum confinement effects may drive a groundbreaking advance in favor to the progress for encoding information in light [20]. The influence of nonlinear optical processes for encrypting operations has been contemplated [21]. Basic computing functions based on third-order optical nonlinearities exhibited by different ZnO nanostructures have been analyzed and nanophotonic circuits have been envisioned [22]. With all these motivations, this work has been focused to further investigate the real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear optical properties exhibited by ZnO nanostructures. A multipath load balancing technique was proposed by using nonlinear optical effects induced by nanosecond pulses in a two-wave mixing configuration.