New laser-based artificial neurons process information a billion times faster than biological neurons while retaining the advanced functionality of natural nerve cells.
Published in optica |Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have achieved a breakthrough in neuromorphic computing using a laser-based artificial neuron that faithfully mimics the function of biological nerve cells at unprecedented speed. . This innovation could change the way artificial intelligence handles complex pattern recognition and sequence prediction tasks.
“Our laser-graded neurons overcome the speed limitations of current photonic versions of spiking neurons, potentially enabling even faster operation,” said Chaolan Huang, research team leader at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. ” he said. The team’s quantum dot laser neurons can process data from 100 million heartbeats or analyze 34.7 million hand-drawn digital images in just one second.
break through the speed barrier
The research team overcame traditional speed limitations by adopting a new approach of injecting a radiofrequency signal into the saturable absorption section of the quantum dot laser rather than the traditional gain section. We also designed a dedicated radio frequency pad to increase speed while maintaining energy efficiency.
In a real-world application, the system detected arrhythmias with 98.4% accuracy while processing 100 million heartbeats per second. In a pattern recognition task, it achieved 92.3% accuracy in classifying handwritten digits while processing 34.7 million images per second.
“Our technology can accelerate AI decision-making in time-critical applications while maintaining high accuracy,” said Huang. “We hope that integrating our technology into edge computing devices will facilitate faster, smarter AI systems in the future that better serve real-world applications while reducing energy consumption. ”
important terms
- neuromorphic computing
- Computing systems designed to mimic the structure and function of biological neurons
- quantum dot laser
- A special laser that uses quantum dots as a gain medium and allows precise control of light emission
- reservoir computing
- A computational technique that uses specialized neural networks to process time-dependent data.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
How fast are laser neurons compared to biological neurons?
Laser neurons process information about a billion times faster than biological neurons.
How accurate is arrhythmia detection?
The system achieved 98.4% accuracy in detecting arrhythmia patterns.
Why does the team approach avoid traditional speed limits?
These inject a high-frequency signal into the saturable absorption section of the quantum dot laser rather than the gain section, avoiding delays that typically limit response time.
Why is this system more energy efficient than previous versions?
Electrically injected laser neurons do not require external laser pumps or modulators, reducing hardware costs and energy consumption.
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