Opto-electronic memristors: Prospects and challenges in neuromorphic computing
Alexandros Emboras, Alessandro Alabastri, Paul Lehmann, Kevin Portner, Christoph Weilenmann, Ping Ma, Bojun Cheng, Mila Lewerenz, Elias Passerini, Ueli Koch, Jan Aeschlimann, Fabian Ducry, Juerg Leuthold, Mathieu Luisier
Abstract
Memristive-based electro-optical neuromorphic hardware takes advantage of both the high-density of electronic circuits and the high bandwidth of their photonic counterparts, thus showing potential for low-power artificial intelligence applications. In this Perspective paper, we introduce a class of electro-optical memristors that can emulate the key properties of synapses and neurons, which are essential features for the realization of electro-optical neuromorphic functionalities. We then describe the challenges associated with existing technologies and finally give our viewpoint on possible developments toward an energy-efficient neuromorphic platform.