High-Speed Optical Vector and Matrix Operations Using a Semiconductor Laser

Using induced transient dynamics of a standard telecommunication laser, we perform optical computation at high data rates. Employing time-multiplexing, we emulate a nonlinear photonic network via a single laser diode. Based on the induced dynamics of the network, a machine learning technique is implemented. We compute the multiplication of a scalar with a vector, vector dot and cross products, and the multiplication of a matrix and a vector, using the same system. Information is injected all-optically at a rate of 5 GSamples/s, allowing for up to 5·10⁸ operations per second.