Optical spike amplitude weighting and neuromimetic rate coding using a joint VCSEL-MRR neuromorphic photonic system

Abstract

Spiking neurons and neural networks constitute a fundamental building block for brain-inspired computing, which is poised to benefit significantly from photonic hardware implementations. In this work, we experimentally investigate an interconnected optical neuromorphic system based on an ultrafast spiking vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) neuron and a silicon photonics (SiPh) integrated micro-ring resonator (MRR). We experimentally demonstrate two different functional arrangements of these devices: first, we show that MRR weight banks can be used in conjunction with the spiking VCSEL-neurons to perform amplitude weighting of sub-ns optical spiking signals. Second, we show that a continuously firing VCSEL-neuron can be directly modulated using a locking signal propagated through a single weighting MRR, and we utilize this functionality to perform optical spike firing rate-coding via thermal tuning of the MRR. Given the significant track record of both integrated weight banks and photonic VCSEL-neurons, we believe these results demonstrate the viability of combining these two classes of devices for use in functional neuromorphic photonic systems.