Distributed Coherent Optical Computing via Injection-Locked Photonic Networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gao, Shenghan, Lüdge, Kathy, Da Ros, Francesco, Youngblood, Nathan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Gao, Shenghan
Lüdge, Kathy
Da Ros, Francesco
Youngblood, Nathan
author_facet Gao, Shenghan
Lüdge, Kathy
Da Ros, Francesco
Youngblood, Nathan
contents Coherent photonic computing uses both the phase and amplitude of light to implement linear operations such as dot products and matrix multiplication but requires phase stability between the interfering paths. This poses a challenge for such strategies when optical data is generated at a remote source due to environmental phase variations in fiber. Conventional approaches to distributed computing rely on optical-to-electrical conversion and buffering, limiting truly real-time and distributed computation. Here, we propose a new strategy via optical injection locking to enable distributed, real-time coherent optical processing without unnecessary conversions in the optical-to-electrical or analog-to-digital domains. Using a semiconductor laser rate-equation model, we explore the conditions required for stable operation by sweeping the power injection ratio, frequency detuning, and modulation conditions of the remote and injected lasers. Our results indicate that higher injection powers broaden the locking margin but more readily exhibit frequency-selective features associated with relaxation oscillations and increased amplitude-phase mixing, whereas lower injection powers yield a narrower, but more predictable operating window which remains stable under large modulation depth. End-to-end symbol-sequence simulations with balanced detection and temporal integration further confirm that reducing the injection ratio suppresses residual remote-modulation components in the injected laser output and improves computational accuracy. Overall, our study provides guidance and design trade-offs for remote coherent detection and distributed coherent photonic computing enabled by injection locking.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_13450
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Distributed Coherent Optical Computing via Injection-Locked Photonic Networks
Gao, Shenghan
Lüdge, Kathy
Da Ros, Francesco
Youngblood, Nathan
Optics
Coherent photonic computing uses both the phase and amplitude of light to implement linear operations such as dot products and matrix multiplication but requires phase stability between the interfering paths. This poses a challenge for such strategies when optical data is generated at a remote source due to environmental phase variations in fiber. Conventional approaches to distributed computing rely on optical-to-electrical conversion and buffering, limiting truly real-time and distributed computation. Here, we propose a new strategy via optical injection locking to enable distributed, real-time coherent optical processing without unnecessary conversions in the optical-to-electrical or analog-to-digital domains. Using a semiconductor laser rate-equation model, we explore the conditions required for stable operation by sweeping the power injection ratio, frequency detuning, and modulation conditions of the remote and injected lasers. Our results indicate that higher injection powers broaden the locking margin but more readily exhibit frequency-selective features associated with relaxation oscillations and increased amplitude-phase mixing, whereas lower injection powers yield a narrower, but more predictable operating window which remains stable under large modulation depth. End-to-end symbol-sequence simulations with balanced detection and temporal integration further confirm that reducing the injection ratio suppresses residual remote-modulation components in the injected laser output and improves computational accuracy. Overall, our study provides guidance and design trade-offs for remote coherent detection and distributed coherent photonic computing enabled by injection locking.
title Distributed Coherent Optical Computing via Injection-Locked Photonic Networks
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.13450