Integrated nano electro-optomechanical spiking neuron

TL;DR

This paper introduces a nanoscale gallium-phosphide electro-optomechanical neuron that mimics biological spiking behavior, integrating optical and mechanical interfaces on a silicon chip for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing.

Contribution

It presents the first integrated nano electro-optomechanical spiking neuron combining optical and mechanical functionalities in a single CMOS-compatible nanostructure.

Findings

Demonstrates excitable dynamics with optical spike generation

Controls threshold, summation, and refractory period of neuron-like activity

Operates at telecommunication wavelengths with a 3 GHz mechanical mode

Abstract

Neuromorphic computing offers a pathway toward energy-efficient processing of data, yet hardware platforms combining nanoscale integration and multimodal functionality remain scarce. Here we demonstrate a gallium-phosphide electro-optomechanical spiking neuron that integrates optical and electromechanical interfaces within a single nanostructure on a silicon photonic chip operating at telecommunication wavelengths (1550 nm) and exploiting a 3 gigahertz-frequency mechanical mode. Our device displays excitable dynamics, generating optical spikes at its output, as in the spiking activity of neurons and cardiac cells and defined by the calibrated all-or-none response to external perturbations. This dynamic is consistent with the saddle-node on invariant circle scenario and associated features are demonstrated including control of excitable threshold, temporal summation and refractory period. Our device compact footprint and its CMOS-compatible platform make it well suited for edge-computing applications requiring low latency and establish a foundation for versatile brain-inspired optomechanical computing and advanced on-chip optical pulse sources.