Delay dynamics of neuromorphic optoelectronic nanoscale resonators: Perspectives and applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of neuromorphic photonic circuits based on nanoscale optoelectronic oscillators, highlighting their dynamic properties, potential for high-speed optical memory, and applications in brain-inspired computing.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent experimental and theoretical advances in neuromorphic microchips with delay dynamics and their applications in optical data processing.

Findings

Artificial solid-state neuron microchips exhibit all-or-none responses.

Neuromorphic microchips demonstrate spike-based data encoding and signal regeneration.

Extended spatio-temporal localized light structures enable high-speed optical data reconfiguration.

Abstract

With the recent exponential growth of applications using artificial intelligence (AI), the development of efficient and ultrafast brain-like (neuromorphic) systems is crucial for future information and communication technologies. While the implementation of AI systems using computer algorithms of neural networks is emerging rapidly, scientists are just taking the very first steps in the development of the hardware elements of an artificial brain, specifically neuromorphic microchips. In this review article, we present the current state of neuromorphic photonic circuits based on solid-state optoelectronic oscillators formed by nanoscale double barrier quantum well resonant tunneling diodes. We address, both experimentally and theoretically, the key dynamic properties of recently developed artificial solid-state neuron microchips with delayed perturbations and describe their role in the study of neural activity and regenerative memory. This review covers our recent research work on excitable and delay dynamic characteristics of both single and autaptic (delayed) artificial neurons including all-or-none response, spike-based data encoding, storage, signal regeneration and signal healing. Furthermore, the neural responses of these neuromorphic microchips display all the signatures of extended spatio-temporal localized structures (LSs) of light, which are reviewed here in detail. By taking advantage of the dissipative nature of LSs, we demonstrate potential applications in optical data reconfiguration and clock and timing at high-speeds and with short transients. The results reviewed in this article are a key enabler for the development of high-performance optoelectronic devices in future high-speed brain-inspired optical memories and neuromorphic computing.