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Integrated nano electro-optomechanical spiking neuron

Optics 2026-01-21 v1 Applied Physics Classical Physics

Abstract

Neuromorphic computing offers a pathway toward energy-efficient processing of data, yet hardware platforms combining nanoscale integration and multimodal functionality remain scarce. Here we demonstrate a gallium-phosphide electro-optomechanical spiking neuron that integrates optical and electromechanical interfaces within a single nanostructure on a silicon photonic chip operating at telecommunication wavelengths (1550 nm) and exploiting a 3 gigahertz-frequency mechanical mode. Our device displays excitable dynamics, generating optical spikes at its output, as in the spiking activity of neurons and cardiac cells and defined by the calibrated all-or-none response to external perturbations. This dynamic is consistent with the saddle-node on invariant circle scenario and associated features are demonstrated including control of excitable threshold, temporal summation and refractory period. Our device compact footprint and its CMOS-compatible platform make it well suited for edge-computing applications requiring low latency and establish a foundation for versatile brain-inspired optomechanical computing and advanced on-chip optical pulse sources.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.11857,
  title  = {Integrated nano electro-optomechanical spiking neuron},
  author = {Gregorio Beltramo and Róbert Horváth and Grégoire Beaudoin and Isabelle Sagnes and Sylvain Barbay and Rémy Braive},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.11857},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

4 figures

R2 v1 2026-07-01T09:08:35.142Z