Experimental learning in an optical perceptronlike neural network

An optical perceptronlike neural network employing a delta learning rule and consisting of input units and a single output unit is constructed. Photorefractive crystals are used as holographic media for the interconnections between the input and the output layers. The learning rate for interconnection weight changes is optimally determined by setting the exposure time of the hologram. A learning experiment verifies the learning schedule's prediction that a fast, stable convergence of the learning process without oscillatory action can be obtained.