Broadcast and Weight: An Integrated Network For Scalable Photonic Spike Processing

TLDR

Recent advances in commercial photonic integration and neuromorphic computing make photonic spike processing a promising unconventional computing opportunity. The authors propose an on‑chip optical architecture enabling massive parallel communication among high‑performance spiking laser neurons. They design a network protocol, computational element, and waveguide medium, incorporating scalable wavelength reuse and biologically relevant organization while addressing practical feasibility. The broadcast‑and‑weight approach combines neuromorphic processing with optoelectronic physics, delivering multiple advantageous features.

Abstract

We propose an on-chip optical architecture to support massive parallel communication among high-performance spiking laser neurons. Designs for a network protocol, computational element, and waveguide medium are described, and novel methods are considered in relation to prior research in optical on-chip networking, neural networking, and computing. Broadcast-and-weight is a new approach for combining neuromorphic processing and optoelectronic physics, a pairing that is found to yield a variety of advantageous features. We discuss properties and design considerations for architectures for scalable wavelength reuse and biologically relevant organizational capabilities, in addition to aspects of practical feasibility. Given recent developments commercial photonic systems integration and neuromorphic computing, we suggest that a novel approach to photonic spike processing represents a promising opportunity in unconventional computing.