An Analog Photonic Computing Device Based on a Diffractive Neural Network for Video Stream Processing

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14529/jsfi260208

Keywords:

optical computing, diffractive neural network, image processing and classification, spatial light modulator, YOLO neural networks, video-streams

Abstract

This paper investigates the design principles of analog photonic computing devices for pattern recognition tasks. As a result of the conducted research, an analog photonic computing device (APCD) based on a diffractive neural network (DNN) is developed and implemented in two configurations. The DNN is realized using a phase spatial light modulator (SLM) placed in the Fourier plane of a two-lens optical system (4F system). Benefits of combining an optical DNN with a compact computer neural network for post-processing the optical recognition results are demonstrated. The presented results show the effectiveness of using the APCD for processing and recognition of high-dimensional imagery in real-time video streams. A comparative performance analysis of the APCD and a family of GPU-based YOLO neural networks is conducted for object image recognition in video streams. The results demonstrate that when processing high-dimensional frames, the power consumption of the APCD is an order of magnitude lower than that of modern GPU-class graphics platforms such as the RTX 4090.

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Published

2026-07-30

How to Cite

Skidanov, R. V., Doskolovich, L. L., Kazanskiy, N. L., Morozov, A. E., Pronin, A. S., Sorokin, D. M., Khanenko, Y. V., & Soifer, V. A. (2026). An Analog Photonic Computing Device Based on a Diffractive Neural Network for Video Stream Processing. Supercomputing Frontiers and Innovations, 13(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.14529/jsfi260208