Photonic Generation of Neuron-Like Dynamics Using VCSELs Subject to Double Polarized Optical Injection

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 36; no. 19; pp. 4227 - 4234
• Main Authors: Xiang, Shuiying, Zhang, Yahui, Guo, Xingxing, Wen, Aijun, Hao, Yue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2018; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Data processing; Dynamics; Frequency locking; Mathematical models; Neuron-like dynamics; Neurons; Optical attenuators; Optical fibers; Optical polarization; Optical pulses; photonic neuron; Photonics; Polarization; polarization switching; Relaxation oscillations; Spiking; Vertical cavity surface emission lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2018.2818195

We propose to generate excitatory and inhibitory neuron-like dynamics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) by applying simultaneously the orthogonally-polarized CW optical injection (OPCWOI) and parallelly-polarized pulse optical injection stimulus. Based on the spin flip model, excitatory and inhibitory neuron-like dynamics accompanying with reverse polarization switching is numerically investigated. It is found that, due to the injection locking effect or beating effect between two injected fields, the excitatory phasic and tonic spiking dynamics can be obtained in the originally dominated polarization mode. Moreover, the unwanted relaxation oscillation followed by the excitatory spiking dynamics at the end of the stimulus pulse, which is present in previous reported photonic neuron based on the VCSELs subject to a single orthogonally-polarized optical pulse injection, can be completely suppressed. In addition, the inhibition of tonic spiking dynamics can also be achieved, and the transition from tonic spiking dynamics to phasic bursting dynamics can be obtained, when the two injected fields have the same frequency. These results are interesting and valuable for the ultrafast photonic neuromorphic systems and neuron-inspired photonic information processing.