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Calculating with light using a chip-scale all-optical abacus

Author

Listed:
  • J. Feldmann

    (Institute of Physics, University of Muenster)

  • M. Stegmaier

    (Institute of Physics, University of Muenster)

  • N. Gruhler

    (Institute of Physics, University of Muenster)

  • C. Ríos

    (University of Oxford)

  • H. Bhaskaran

    (University of Oxford)

  • C. D. Wright

    (University of Exeter)

  • W. H. P. Pernice

    (Institute of Physics, University of Muenster)

Abstract

Machines that simultaneously process and store multistate data at one and the same location can provide a new class of fast, powerful and efficient general-purpose computers. We demonstrate the central element of an all-optical calculator, a photonic abacus, which provides multistate compute-and-store operation by integrating functional phase-change materials with nanophotonic chips. With picosecond optical pulses we perform the fundamental arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, including a carryover into multiple cells. This basic processing unit is embedded into a scalable phase-change photonic network and addressed optically through a two-pulse random access scheme. Our framework provides first steps towards light-based non-von Neumann arithmetic.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Feldmann & M. Stegmaier & N. Gruhler & C. Ríos & H. Bhaskaran & C. D. Wright & W. H. P. Pernice, 2017. "Calculating with light using a chip-scale all-optical abacus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01506-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01506-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Wen Zhou & Bowei Dong & Nikolaos Farmakidis & Xuan Li & Nathan Youngblood & Kairan Huang & Yuhan He & C. David Wright & Wolfram H. P. Pernice & Harish Bhaskaran, 2023. "In-memory photonic dot-product engine with electrically programmable weight banks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Maoliang Wei & Kai Xu & Bo Tang & Junying Li & Yiting Yun & Peng Zhang & Yingchun Wu & Kangjian Bao & Kunhao Lei & Zequn Chen & Hui Ma & Chunlei Sun & Ruonan Liu & Ming Li & Lan Li & Hongtao Lin, 2024. "Monolithic back-end-of-line integration of phase change materials into foundry-manufactured silicon photonics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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