High-speed all-optical neural networks empowered spatiotemporal mode multiplexing

Fu Feng; Xiaolong Li; Ziyang Zhang; Jiaan Gan; Xiaocong Yuan

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-02007-5

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High-speed all-optical neural networks empowered spatiotemporal mode multiplexing

Original Articles

- High-speed all-optical neural networks empowered spatiotemporal mode multiplexing
- Light: Science & Applications Vol. 14, Issue 11, Pages: 3653-3662(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Research Center for Frontier Fundamental Studies, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
  2.State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  3.College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Hangzhou, China
  4.Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Author bio：
  
  Fu Feng (fufeng@zhejianglab.org)
  Xiaocong Yuan (xcyuan@zhejianglab.org)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-02007-5
  CLC：
- Received：15 January 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-08-11，
  
  Accepted：12 August 2025，
  
  Published Online：25 September 2025，
  
  Published：30 November 2025
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Feng, F. et al. High-speed all-optical neural networks empowered spatiotemporal mode multiplexing. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3653-3662 (2025).
DOI：

Feng, F. et al. High-speed all-optical neural networks empowered spatiotemporal mode multiplexing. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3653-3662 (2025). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-02007-5.

摘要

Abstract

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams

characterized by a helical phase structure and phase singularity

have emerged as a powerful resource for high-capacity optical communications through mode-division multiplexing (MDM). Traditional OAM multiplexing systems operating solely in the spatial domain face significant challenges

including increased system complexity

inter-modal crosstalk

and limited scalability. Recent advances have explored hybrid multiplexing schemes combining OAM with wavelength or polarization degrees of freedom

demonstrating Pbit/s level transmission capacities. However

these systems predominantly rely on continuous-wave lasers and external modulators

which constrain their applicability in challenging environments

whereas pulsed lasers provide superior peak power

enhanced transmission robustness

and the potential for implementation of OAM lasers

which generally emit pulsed OAM beams. Here

we report an OAM-based spatiotemporal multiplexing (OAM-STM) technique that synergistically implements pulsed OAM beams with a diffractive deep neural network (D

NN) and optical fiber delay lines to project spatial mode information into the temporal domain

. This approach leverages the full potential of pulsed laser sources by activating the underutilized time dimension

thereby overcoming the repetition-rate bottleneck and enhancing channel throughput. We experimentally demonstrate an OAM-based spatiotemporal demultiplexer achieving demultiplexing speed limited only by the bandwidth of the photodiode if OAM generation is fast enough. In the meantime

the architecture is intrinsically compatible with high-repetition-rate OAM sources

offering the entire system the scalability to GHz rates. This work establishes a foundational framework for high-speed

all-optical

and high-capacity OAM-STM systems

with promising implications for free-space optical communication

underwater communication links

and other complex environments.

关键词

Keywords

references

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