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All-optical temporal integration mediated by subwavelength heat antennas
Yi Zhang1, Nikolaos Farmakidis1, Ioannis Roumpos2
1Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
Nature Communications
|December 23, 2025
Summary
This study introduces an all-optical neuromorphic computing system using time division multiplexing to process large AI vectors. The novel platform enables high-dimensional, ultra-fast signal processing and non-linear activation entirely optically.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Neuromorphic Computing
Background:
- Optical computing offers high speeds for scalar operations but is limited in processing high-dimensional tensors.
- Current integrated systems cannot meet the vector dimensions needed for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an all-optical neuromorphic computing system capable of processing large-scale input vectors.
- To overcome the dimensional limitations of current integrated optical computing systems for AI.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing time division multiplexing within a unified optical framework.
- Harnessing optically driven thermo-optic modulation in standing wave optical fields.
- Employing titanium nano-antennas as wavelength-selective absorbers for signal control.
Main Results:
- Processing of input vectors exceeding 250,000 elements demonstrated.
- Simultaneous time integration of ultra-fast (50 GHz) signals achieved optically.
- Programmable, non-linear activation functions implemented entirely within the optical domain.
Conclusions:
- The developed system represents a significant advancement towards large-scale photonic computing.
- This unified optical framework addresses the dimensional requirements of modern AI workloads.
- The system offers a pathway for future high-performance AI hardware.
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