Optical neuron by use of a laser diode with injection seeding and external optical feedback

We present an all-optical neuron by use of a multimode laser diode that is subjected to external optical feedback and light injection. The shape of the threshold function, that is needed for neural operation, is controlled by adjusting the external feedback level for two longitudinal cavity modes of the laser diode individually. One of the two modes corresponds to the output of the neuron, light injection at the wavelength of this mode provides excitatory input. Light injection in the other mode provides inhibitory input. When light corresponding to two input signals is injected in the same mode, summation of input signals can be achieved. A rate-equation model is used to explain the operating principle theoretically. The proposed injection seeding neuron is built using free-space optics to demonstrate the concept experimentally. The results are in good agreement with the predictions from the rate-equation model. Some experimental results show threshold functions that are preferable from a neural-network point of view. These results agree well with injection locking theory and experiments reported in literature.