# Michelson Interferometric Methods for Full Optical Complex Convolution

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new optical system for complex signal modulation, advancing optical computing and machine learning applications.

## Contribution

The novel Reconfigurable Complex Convolution Module enables independent phase and amplitude modulation over two million pixels.

## Key findings

- The system uses a Michelson interferometer with two spatial light modulators for Fourier domain modulation.
- The setup effectively addresses SLM non-linearities and crosstalk in optical signal processing.

## Abstract

Optical real-time data processing is advancing fields like tensor algebra acceleration, cryptography, and digital holography. This technology offers advantages such as reduced complexity through optical fast Fourier transform and passive dot-product multiplication. In this study, the proposed Reconfigurable Complex Convolution Module (RCCM) is capable of independently modulating both phase and amplitude over two million pixels. This research is relevant for applications in optical computing, hardware acceleration, encryption, and machine learning, where precise signal modulation is crucial. We demonstrate simultaneous amplitude and phase modulation of an optical two-dimensional signal in a thin lens’s Fourier plane. Utilizing two spatial light modulators (SLMs) in a Michelson interferometer placed in the focal plane of two Fourier lenses, our system enables full modulation in a 4F system’s Fourier domain. This setup addresses challenges like SLMs’ non-linear inter-pixel crosstalk and variable modulation efficiency. The integration of these technologies in the RCCM contributes to the advancement of optical computing and related fields.