Visible Light-Sensitive Artificial Photonic Synapse

Computing based on artificial neuron networks holds great promise in overcoming the von Neumann bottleneck and significantly enhancing computing efficiency. It offers a wide range of possibilities for artificial visual system applications. Photonic synapses, as essential components, can contribute to improved efficiency in visual information processing by leveraging their low latency, high propagation speed, and broad bandwidth capabilities. Herein, a photonic transistor capable of detecting visible light and exhibiting synaptic characteristics under various visible stimuli is presented. This is achieved by integrating a photo-sensitive polymer as a floating gate charge trapping medium. The synaptic device successfully emulates fundamental synaptic behaviors such as excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), pair-pulse facilitation, the transition of short-term memory to long-term memory, and learning and forgetting processes. Furthermore, leveraging the ESPC responses, the informative synaptic outputs modulated by light signals enable a non-contact writing method, paving the way for advancements in optical wireless communication. It is believed that this work serves as a promising building block to complete the bio-inspired photonic computing paradigm. A photonic transistor capable of detecting and memorizing visible light signals is demonstrated by integrating a photo-sensitive polymer as a floating gate charge trapping medium. It can emulate fundamental synaptic behavior under various visible stimuli, and the informative synaptic outputs modulated by light signals enable a non-contact writing method, paving the way for advancements in optical wireless communication.image