Physical implementation of an artificial neural network with optical components
Schematic of an optical neural network that functions as a logic gate (above) and its implementation in microwave frequencies (below). The intermediate diffractivemetasurfaces function as hidden layers.[1]
An optical neural network is a physical implementation of an artificial neural network with optical components. Early optical neural networks used a photorefractive Volume hologram to interconnect arrays of input neurons to arrays of output with synaptic weights in proportion to the multiplexed hologram's strength.[2] Volume holograms were further multiplexed using spectral hole burning to add one dimension of wavelength to space to achieve four dimensional interconnects of two dimensional arrays of neural inputs and outputs.[3] This research led to extensive research on alternative methods using the strength of the optical interconnect for implementing neuronal communications.[4]
^Duvillier J, Killinger M, Heggarty K, Yao K, de Bougrenet de la Tocnaye JL (January 1994). "All-optical implementation of a self-organizing map: a preliminary approach". Applied Optics. 33 (2): 258–66. Bibcode:1994ApOpt..33..258D. doi:10.1364/AO.33.000258. PMID20862015.