2014/09/24 by Bhavin J. Shastri, Mitchell A. Nahmias, Alexander N. Tait +2 · 46 citations
Computer Science · Engineering · Neuroscience · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Memory and Neural Computing #Bistability #Computer science #Laser #Neural Networks and Reservoir Computing #Neural dynamics and brain function #Optics #Optoelectronics #Photonics #Physics #Spike (software development) #physics.optics
paper · pdf · open access · doi:10.1364/oe.23.008029
published in Optics Express 23(6), 8029 (Optica Publishing Group) · 16 pages, 7 figures
arxiv created 2014/09/24 · openalex publication_date 2015/03/20 · arxiv updated 2015/04/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We propose an equivalent circuit model for photonic spike processing laser neurons with an embedded saturable absorber—a simulation model for photonic excitable lasers (SIMPEL). We show that by mapping the laser neuron rate equations into a circuit model, SPICE analysis can be used as an efficient and accurate engine for numerical calculations, capable of generalization to a variety of different types of laser neurons with saturable absorber found in literature. The development of this model parallels the Hodgkin-Huxley model of neuron biophysics, a circuit framework which brought efficiency, modularity, and generalizability to the study of neural dynamics. We employ the model to study various signal-processing effects such as excitability with excitatory and inhibitory pulses, binary all-or-nothing response, and bistable dynamics.