Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires

Biological neural network functionality depends on the vast number of connections between nodes, which can be challenging to implement artificially. One radical solution is to replace physical wiring with broadcasting of signals between the artificial neurons. We explore an implementation of this co...

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Main Authors: Draguns Kristians, Flodgren Vidar, Winge David, Serafini Alfredo, Atvars Aigars, Alnis Janis, Mikkelsen Anders
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-07-01
Series:Nanophotonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2025-0035
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author Draguns Kristians
Flodgren Vidar
Winge David
Serafini Alfredo
Atvars Aigars
Alnis Janis
Mikkelsen Anders
author_facet Draguns Kristians
Flodgren Vidar
Winge David
Serafini Alfredo
Atvars Aigars
Alnis Janis
Mikkelsen Anders
author_sort Draguns Kristians
collection DOAJ
description Biological neural network functionality depends on the vast number of connections between nodes, which can be challenging to implement artificially. One radical solution is to replace physical wiring with broadcasting of signals between the artificial neurons. We explore an implementation of this concept by light emitting/receiving III-V semiconductor nanowire neurons in a quasi-2D waveguide. They broadcast light in anisotropic patterns and specific regions in the nanowires are sensitised to exciting and inhibiting light signals. Weights of connections between nodes can then be tailored using the geometric light absorption/emission patterns. Through detailed simulations, we determine the connection strength based on rotation and separation between the nanowires. Our findings reveal that complex weight distributions are possible, indicating that specific neuron geometric patterns can achieve highly variable connectivity as needed for neural networks. An important design parameter is matching the wavelength to the specific physical dimensions of the network. To demonstrate applicability, we simulate a reservoir neural network using a hexagonal pattern of nanowires with random angular orientations, displaying its ability to perform chaotic time series prediction. The design is compatible with integration on Si substrates and can be extended to other nanophotonic components.
format Article
id doaj-art-d2712c49e2454b38becafcc4d4fca7ef
institution Kabale University
issn 2192-8614
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher De Gruyter
record_format Article
series Nanophotonics
spelling doaj-art-d2712c49e2454b38becafcc4d4fca7ef2025-08-20T03:41:43ZengDe GruyterNanophotonics2192-86142025-07-0114152575258510.1515/nanoph-2025-0035Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowiresDraguns Kristians0Flodgren Vidar1Winge David2Serafini Alfredo3Atvars Aigars4Alnis Janis5Mikkelsen Anders6University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia5193Lund University, Lund, Sweden5193Lund University, Lund, Sweden5193Lund University, Lund, SwedenUniversity of Latvia, Riga, LatviaUniversity of Latvia, Riga, Latvia5193Lund University, Lund, SwedenBiological neural network functionality depends on the vast number of connections between nodes, which can be challenging to implement artificially. One radical solution is to replace physical wiring with broadcasting of signals between the artificial neurons. We explore an implementation of this concept by light emitting/receiving III-V semiconductor nanowire neurons in a quasi-2D waveguide. They broadcast light in anisotropic patterns and specific regions in the nanowires are sensitised to exciting and inhibiting light signals. Weights of connections between nodes can then be tailored using the geometric light absorption/emission patterns. Through detailed simulations, we determine the connection strength based on rotation and separation between the nanowires. Our findings reveal that complex weight distributions are possible, indicating that specific neuron geometric patterns can achieve highly variable connectivity as needed for neural networks. An important design parameter is matching the wavelength to the specific physical dimensions of the network. To demonstrate applicability, we simulate a reservoir neural network using a hexagonal pattern of nanowires with random angular orientations, displaying its ability to perform chaotic time series prediction. The design is compatible with integration on Si substrates and can be extended to other nanophotonic components.https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2025-0035optical neural networksnanowiresiii-vsemiconductors
spellingShingle Draguns Kristians
Flodgren Vidar
Winge David
Serafini Alfredo
Atvars Aigars
Alnis Janis
Mikkelsen Anders
Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
Nanophotonics
optical neural networks
nanowires
iii-v
semiconductors
title Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
title_full Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
title_fullStr Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
title_full_unstemmed Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
title_short Neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between III-V nanowires
title_sort neural network connectivity by optical broadcasting between iii v nanowires
topic optical neural networks
nanowires
iii-v
semiconductors
url https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2025-0035
work_keys_str_mv AT dragunskristians neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT flodgrenvidar neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT wingedavid neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT serafinialfredo neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT atvarsaigars neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT alnisjanis neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires
AT mikkelsenanders neuralnetworkconnectivitybyopticalbroadcastingbetweeniiivnanowires