title: Artificial Neuron Based on Integrated Semiconductor Quantum Dot Mode-Locked Lasers.
abstract: Neuro-inspired implementations have attracted strong interest as a power efficient and robust alternative to the digital model of computation with a broad range of applications. Especially, neuro-mimetic systems able to produce and process spike-encoding schemes can offer merits like high noise-resiliency and increased computational efficiency. Towards this direction, integrated photonics can be an auspicious platform due to its multi-GHz bandwidth, its high wall-plug efficiency and the strong similarity of its dynamics under excitation with biological spiking neurons. Here, we propose an integrated all-optical neuron based on an InAs/InGaAs semiconductor quantum-dot passively mode-locked laser. The multi-band emission capabilities of these lasers allows, through waveband switching, the emulation of the excitation and inhibition modes of operation. Frequency-response effects, similar to biological neural circuits, are observed just as in a typical two-section excitable laser. The demonstrated optical building block can pave the way for high-speed photonic integrated systems able to address tasks ranging from pattern recognition to cognitive spectrum management and multi-sensory data processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics &Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Ilisia 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mesaritakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics &Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Ilisia 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapsalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics &Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Ilisia 15784, Athens, Greece.|Department of Informatics, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Aghiou Spiridonos, 12210 Egaleo, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Adonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogris
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics &Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Ilisia 15784, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Syvridis
mesh_terms: D058045:Artificial Cells; D007834:Lasers; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012666:Semiconductors