# Neuromorphic Silicon Photonic Networks

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.02272 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.02272/

## Key facts

- Cited by 68 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 5 Nov 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 30 of 68)

- [CrossLight: A Cross-Layer Optimized Silicon Photonic Neural Network Accelerator](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.06960/) (2021)
- [Nonlinear Processing with Linear Optics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.08533/) (2023)
- [Silicon Photonic Architecture for Training Deep Neural Networks with Direct Feedback Alignment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.06862/) (2021)
- [NeurOLight: A Physics-Agnostic Neural Operator Enabling Parametric Photonic Device Simulation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.10098/) (2022)
- [ROBIN: A Robust Optical Binary Neural Network Accelerator](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.05530/) (2021)
- [Nonlinear optical encoding enabled by recurrent linear scattering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.08558/) (2023)
- [A compact butterfly-style silicon photonic-electronic neural chip for hardware-efficient deep learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.06705/) (2021)
- [Dynamic Precision Analog Computing for Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.06365/) (2021)
- [Single-Shot Optical Neural Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.09103/) (2022)
- [Spatially Varying Nanophotonic Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.03407/) (2023)
- [Polarization Multiplexed Diffractive Computing: All-Optical Implementation of a Group of Linear Transformations Through a Polarization-Encoded Diffractive Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.13482/) (2022)
- [Arbitrary control over multimode wave propagation for machine learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.17750/) (2024)
- [Multiplexed gradient descent: Fast online training of modern datasets on hardware neural networks without backpropagation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.03986/) (2023)
- [Towards Exact Gradient-based Training on Analog In-memory Computing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.12774/) (2024)
- [SimPhony: A Device-Circuit-Architecture Cross-Layer Modeling and Simulation Framework for Heterogeneous Electronic-Photonic AI System](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.13715/) (2024)
- [Diffractive Interconnects: All-Optical Permutation Operation Using Diffractive Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.10152/) (2022)
- [TeMPO: Efficient Time-Multiplexed Dynamic Photonic Tensor Core for Edge AI with Compact Slow-Light Electro-Optic Modulator](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.07393/) (2024)
- [SCATTER: Algorithm-Circuit Co-Sparse Photonic Accelerator with Thermal-Tolerant, Power-Efficient In-situ Light Redistribution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.05510/) (2024)
- [Photonic Reconfigurable Accelerators for Efficient Inference of CNNs with Mixed-Sized Tensors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.05278/) (2022)
- [Physics-aware Differentiable Discrete Codesign for Diffractive Optical Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.14252/) (2022)
- [M3ICRO: Machine Learning-Enabled Compact Photonic Tensor Core based on PRogrammable Multi-Operand Multimode Interference](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.19505/) (2023)
- [Analog In-memory Training on General Non-ideal Resistive Elements: The Impact of Response Functions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.06309/) (2025)
- [BPLight-CNN: A Photonics-based Backpropagation Accelerator for Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.10140/) (2021)
- [Noise mitigation strategies in physical feedforward neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.09461/) (2022)
- [Integrated multi-operand optical neurons for scalable and hardware-efficient deep learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.19592/) (2023)
- [Towards Memory-Efficient Neural Networks via Multi-Level in situ Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.11430/) (2021)
- [Data-driven Modeling of Mach-Zehnder Interferometer-based Optical Matrix Multipliers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.09171/) (2022)
- [Rubik's Optical Neural Networks: Multi-task Learning with Physics-aware Rotation Architecture](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.12985/) (2023)
- [A Blueprint for Precise and Fault-Tolerant Analog Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.10759/) (2023)
- [Effects of cavity nonlinearities and linear losses on silicon microring-based reservoir computing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.09433/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Photonic systems for high-performance information processing have attracted renewed interest. Neuromorphic silicon photonics has the potential to integrate processing functions that vastly exceed the capabilities of electronics. We report first observations of a recurrent silicon photonic neural network, in which connections are configured by microring weight banks. A mathematical isomorphism between the silicon photonic circuit and a continuous neural network model is demonstrated through dynamical bifurcation analysis. Exploiting this isomorphism, a simulated 24-node silicon photonic neural network is programmed using "neural compiler" to solve a differential system emulation task. A 294-fold acceleration against a conventional benchmark is predicted. We also propose and derive power consumption analysis for modulator-class neurons that, as opposed to laser-class neurons, are compatible with silicon photonic platforms. At increased scale, Neuromorphic silicon photonics could access new regimes of ultrafast information processing for radio, control, and scientific computing.