Micro mirrors based coupling of light to multi-core fiber realizing in-fiber photonic neural network processor

摘要

Hardware implementation of artificial neural networks facilitates real-time parallel processing of massive data sets. Optical neural networks offer low-volume 3D connectivity together with large bandwidth and minimal heat production in contrast to electronic implementation. Here, we present a DMD based approaches to realize energetically efficient light coupling into a multi-core fiber realizing a unique design for in-fiber optical neural networks. Neurons and synapses are realized as individual cores in a multi-core fiber. Optical signals are transferred transversely between cores by means of optical coupling. Pump driven amplification in Erbium-doped cores mimics synaptic interactions. In order to dynamically and efficiently couple light into the multi-core fiber a DMD based micro mirror device is used to perform proper beam shaping operation. The beam shaping reshapes the light into a large set of points in space matching the positions of the required cores in the entrance plane to the multi-core fiber.