Spiking neurons and neural networks constitute a fundamental building block for brain-inspired computing, which is posed to benefit significantly from photonic hardware implementations. In this work, we experimentally investigate an interconnected system based on an ultrafast spiking VCSEL-neuron and a silicon photonics (SiPh) integrated micro-ring resonator (MRR) weight bank, and demonstrate two different functional arrangements of these devices. First, we show that MRR weightbanks can be used in conjuction with the spiking VCSEL-neurons to perform amplitude weighting of sub-ns optical spiking signals. Second, we show that a continuous firing VCSEL-neuron can be directly modulated using a locking signal propagated through a single weighting micro-ring, and we utilize this functionality to perform optical spike firing rate-coding via thermal tuning of the micro-ring resonator. Given the significant track record of both integrated weight banks and photonic VCSEL-neurons, we believe these results demonstrate the viability of combining these two classes of devices for use in functional neuromorphic photonic systems.

翻译：尖峰神经元及神经网络构成类脑计算的基础模块，这类计算有望从光子硬件实现中显著受益。本研究通过实验探索了基于超快尖峰VCSEL神经元与硅光子（SiPh）集成微环谐振器（MRR）权重库的互联系统，并展示了这两种器件的两种不同功能配置。首先，我们证明MRR权重库可与尖峰VCSEL神经元协同工作，对亚纳秒级光尖峰信号进行幅度加权。其次，我们展示了连续发放的VCSEL神经元可通过经单个加权微环传播的锁定信号直接调制，并利用该功能通过微环谐振器的热调谐实现光尖峰发放率编码。鉴于集成权重库与光子VCSEL神经元均已具备显著的技术积累，这些结果验证了将两类器件结合用于功能性神经形态光子系统的可行性。