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Neuromorphic Silicon Photonics (arxiv.org)
1 point by EvgeniyZh on Nov 22, 2016 | hide | past | pdf | discuss on HN

In plain words: Light looping through ring-shaped components on a silicon chip sets how strongly each node feeds the next, so the circuit acts like a neural network. A simulated 24-node version mimicking a differential equation system was predicted to run 294 times faster than conventional computers.

Abstract · Neuromorphic Silicon Photonic Networks

Photonic systems for high-performance information processing have attracted renewed interest. Neuromorphic silicon photonics has the potential to integrate processing functions that vastly exceed the capabilities of electronics. We report first observations of a recurrent silicon photonic neural network, in which connections are configured by microring weight banks. A mathematical isomorphism between the silicon photonic circuit and a continuous neural network model is demonstrated through dynamical bifurcation analysis. Exploiting this isomorphism, a simulated 24-node silicon photonic neural network is programmed using "neural compiler" to solve a differential system emulation task. A 294-fold acceleration against a conventional benchmark is predicted. We also propose and derive power consumption analysis for modulator-class neurons that, as opposed to laser-class neurons, are compatible with silicon photonic platforms. At increased scale, Neuromorphic silicon photonics could access new regimes of ultrafast information processing for radio, control, and scientific computing.

Alexander N. Tait, Thomas Ferreira de Lima, Ellen Zhou, Allie X. Wu, Mitchell A. Nahmias, Bhavin J. Shastri, Paul R. Prucnal
arXiv:1611.02272 · q-bio.NC, cs.NE, physics.optics · submitted Nov 5, 2016 · updated Jun 12, 2017
abstract · pdf · html · 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Scientific Reports

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