Switched spatial tensor data manipulation with photonics

A system for manipulating an input vector, comprising:

• a plurality of optical switches comprising a first optical output and a second optical output, the plurality of optical switches being configured to receive a plurality of input optical signals encoding the input vector;
• a first plurality of optical receivers coupled to the respective first optical outputs of the plurality of optical switches, and a second plurality of optical receivers coupled to the respective second optical outputs of the plurality of optical switches;
• a memory system comprising a first section configured to store vectors in accordance with a nominal orientation and a second section configured to store vectors in accordance with a transpose orientation, wherein the nominal orientation and the transpose orientation represent transposed versions of one another;
• and
• a controller configured to select between obtaining a nominal orientation vector and a transpose orientation vector, wherein:
• obtaining the nominal orientation vector comprises generating a first plurality of electronic signals by controlling the plurality of optical switches to route the plurality of input optical signals to the first plurality of optical receivers, and storing the first plurality of electronic signals in the first section of the memory system, and
• obtaining the transpose orientation vector comprises generating a second plurality of electronic signals by controlling the plurality of optical switches to route the plurality of input optical signals to the second plurality of optical receivers, and storing the second plurality of electronic signals in the second section of the memory system.