Optical matrix multiplication unit for an optoelectronic system for forming an artificial neural network

An optical matrix multiplication unit for an optoelectronic system for forming an artificial neural network, comprising:

• N input waveguides;
• M output waveguides;
• and
• a plurality of matrix multiplication unit cells for signal processing of optical signals from each of the N input waveguides and for transmitting the respective processed signal into one of the M output waveguides, wherein each of the matrix multiplication unit cells is allocated to one of the input waveguides and one of the output waveguides and implements a unique allocation between these two allocated waveguides,
• wherein each of the matrix multiplication unit cells includes, for signal processing and signal transmission, a directional coupler interconnected between the allocated input waveguide and the allocated output waveguide and comprising an electro-optical modulator for transmission control of the directional coupler, and
• wherein the matrix multiplication unit is configured as a matrix multiplication unit based on at least one optically active material.