Tuneable 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) Tuneable presynaptic weighting in optoelectronic spiking neurons built with laser-coupled resonant tunneling diodes. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 56 (8). 084001. ISSN 0022-3727 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/aca914)

[thumbnail of Zhang-etal-JPDAP-2022-Tuneable-presynaptic-weighting-in-optoelectronic-spiking-neurons-built-with-laser-coupled]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Zhang_etal_JPDAP_2022_Tuneable_presynaptic_weighting_in_optoelectronic_spiking_neurons_built_with_laser_coupled.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (1MB)| Preview

Abstract

Optoelectronic spiking neurons are regarded as highly promising systems for novel light-powered neuromorphic computing hardware. Here, we investigate an optoelectronic (O/E/O) spiking neuron built with an excitable resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) coupled to a photodetector and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). This work provides the first experimental report on the control of the amplitude (weighting factor) of the fired optical spikes directly in the neuron, introducing a simple way for presynaptic spike amplitude tuning. Notably, a very simple mechanism (the control of VCSEL bias) is used to tune the amplitude of the spikes fired by the optoelectronic neuron, hence enabling an easy and high-speed option for the weighting of optical spiking signals in future interconnected photonic spike-processing nodes. Furthermore, we validate the feasibility of this layout using a simulation of a monolithically-integrated, RTD-powered, nanoscale optoelectronic spiking neuron model, confirming the system's potential for delivering weighted optical spiking signals at very high speeds (GHz firing rates). These results demonstrate the high degree of flexibility of RTD-based artificial optoelectronic spiking neurons and highlight their potential towards compact, high-speed and low-energy photonic spiking neural networks for use in future, 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;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:83490
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    7 February 2023
    Published
    6 December 2022
    Published Online
    6 December 2022
    Accepted
    Keywords:neuromorphic photonics, optoelectronic spiking neurons, photonic synapses, vertical-cavity surface emission laser, VCSEL, resonant tunneling diode, RTD, Optics. Light, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics > Institute of Photonics
    Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:12 Dec 2022 12:19
    Last modified:19 Mar 2023 08:06
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/83490
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)