Photonic processing systems and methods

A method for controlling a photonic processing system, comprising:

• producing, using an optical encoder, a plurality of input optical signals by optically encoding light with a plurality of input numeric values;
• producing, using a photonic processor, a plurality of output optical signals by performing a matrix-matrix multiplication or matrix-vector multiplication based on the plurality of input optical signals;
• and
• producing, using an optical receiver comprising a plurality of homodyne detectors, a plurality of output numeric values based on the plurality of output optical signals, wherein a first homodyne detector of the plurality of homodyne detectors comprises:
• a differential amplifier having first and second inputs;
• first and second photodetectors coupled to the first input of the differential amplifier;
• and
• third and fourth photodetectors coupled to the second input of the differential amplifier, and wherein producing the plurality of output numeric values comprises:
• providing a first photocurrent produced by the first and second photodetectors to the first input of the differential amplifier;
• and
• providing a second photocurrent produced by the third and fourth photodetectors to the second input of the differential amplifier.