System for phase-based photonic computing

A system comprising:

• a spectral filter bank comprising:
• a first waveguide comprising a first input end and a first output end;
• a second waveguide comprising a second input end and a second output end;
• a first optical filter associated with a first optical characteristic, the first optical filter optically coupled to the first waveguide between the first input end and the first output end;
• a second optical filter associated with a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic, the second optical filter optically coupled to the first waveguide between the first input end and the first output end;
• and
• an optical coupler, optically coupled to the first output end and the second output end, the optical coupler configured to:
• receive a first optical signal at the first output end;
• receive a second optical signal at the second output end;
• generate an optical interference signal by optically coupling the first and second optical signals;
• and
• provide the optical interference signal at a coupler output;
• a third waveguide comprising a third input end, a third output end, and a third coupling region between the third input end and the third output end;
• a fourth waveguide comprising a fourth input end, a fourth output end, and a fourth coupling region between the fourth input end and the fourth output end;
• a third optical filter associated with the first optical characteristic, the third optical filter optically coupled to the third waveguide between the third input end and the third coupling region;
• a fourth optical filter associated with the second optical characteristic, the fourth optical filter optically coupled to the third waveguide between the third input end and the third coupling region;
• a second optical coupler that optically couples the third coupling region and the fourth coupling region;
• and
• an optical splitter comprising a splitter input, a first splitter output, a second splitter output, a third splitter output, and a fourth splitter output, wherein:
• the optical splitter is configured to:
• split an optical input signal, received at the splitter input, into a first optical output signal, a second optical output signal, a third optical output signal, and a fourth optical output signal;
• provide the first optical output signal at the first splitter output;
• provide the second optical output signal at the second splitter output;
• provide the third optical output signal at the third splitter output;
• and
• provide the fourth optical output signal at the fourth splitter output;
• the first splitter output is optically coupled to the first input end;
• the second splitter output is optically coupled to the second input end;
• the third splitter output is optically coupled to the third input end;
• and
• the fourth splitter output is optically coupled to the fourth input end.