Tunable presynaptic weighting in optoelectronic spiking neurons built with laser-coupled resonant tunneling diodes

Zhang, Weikang and Hejda, Matěj and Malysheva, Ekaterina and Ali Al-Taai, Qusay Raghib and Javaloyes, Julien and Wasige, Edward and Figueiredo, José M. L. and Dolores-Calzadilla, Victor and Romeira, Bruno and Hurtado, Antonio (2023) Tunable presynaptic weighting in optoelectronic spiking neurons built with laser-coupled resonant tunneling diodes. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 56 (8). 084001. ISSN 1361-6463 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/aca914)

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Abstract

Optoelectronic artificial spiking neurons are regarded as promising core elements for novel photonic neuromorphic computing hardware. In this work, we investigate a modular optoelectronic spiking neuron built with an excitable resonant tunneling diode (RTD) coupled to a photodetector and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). This work provides the first experimental demonstration of amplitude control of the fired optical spikes in the electrical-to-optical part of the artificial neuron, therefore introducing a simple way of weighting of the presynaptic spikes. This is achieved by tuning the VCSEL bias current, hence providing a straightforward, high-speed, hardware-friendly option for the weighting of optical spiking signals. Furthermore, we validate the feasibility of this layout using a simulation of a monolithically integrated, RTD-based nanoscale optoelectronic spiking neuron model, which confirms the system’s capability to deliver weighted optical spiking signals at GHz firing rates. These results demonstrate a high degree of flexibility of RTD-based artificial optoelectronic spiking neurons and highlight their potential towards compact, high-speed photonic spiking neural networks and light-enabled neuromorphic hardware.

ORCID iDs

Zhang, Weikang, Hejda, Matěj ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-9426, Malysheva, Ekaterina, Ali Al-Taai, Qusay Raghib, Javaloyes, Julien, Wasige, Edward, Figueiredo, José M. L., Dolores-Calzadilla, Victor, Romeira, Bruno and Hurtado, Antonio ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4448-9034;
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