On-chip photonic synapse
University of Oxford · Augenstern · +1 more institution
Abstract
The search for new "neuromorphic computing" architectures that mimic the brain's approach to simultaneous processing and storage of information is intense. Because, in real brains, neuronal synapses outnumber neurons by many orders of magnitude, the realization of hardware devices mimicking the functionality of a synapse is a first and essential step in such a search. We report the development of such a hardware synapse, implemented entirely in the optical domain via a photonic integrated-circuit approach. Using purely optical means brings the benefits of ultrafast operation speed, virtually unlimited bandwidth, and no electrical interconnect power losses. Our synapse uses phase-change materials combined with…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 20.31
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 36
Authors
5Topics & keywords
- Synapse
- Photonics
- Chip
- Function (biology)
- Computer science
- Neuroscience
- Nanotechnology
- Optoelectronics