Photonics processor architecture

A method for computing a numeric addition using light, the method comprising:

• producing first and second optical signals;
• providing the first optical signal to a first input of a coherent detector, wherein the providing comprises:
• modulating a phase of the first optical signal based on a first numeric value and further modulating the phase of the first optical signal based on a second numeric value;
• providing the second optical signal to a second input of the coherent detector;
• and
• adding the first numeric value to the second numeric value based on an output of the coherent detector.

A photonic adder comprising:

• an optical splitter;
• a first waveguide coupled to a first output of the optical splitter, the first waveguide comprising first and second controllable phase shifters optically connected in series;
• a second waveguide coupled to a second output of the optical splitter;
• and
• a coherent detector comprising a first photodetector coupled to the first waveguide and a second photodetector coupled to the second waveguide.

A method for performing matrix multiplication, the method comprising:

• producing a first output signal indicative of a first product of a first input value with a first matrix value, wherein producing the first output signal comprises:
• controlling a first encoder to encode a first input signal based on the first input value;
• and
• controlling a first multiplier positioned in series with the first encoder based on the first matrix value;
• producing a second output signal indicative of a second product of a second input value with a second matrix value, wherein producing the second output signal comprises:
• controlling a second encoder to encode a second input signal based on the second input value;
• and
• controlling a second multiplier positioned in series with the second encoder based on the second matrix value;
• and
• controlling an optical adder to produce, based on the first and second output signals and further based on input light, a cumulative signal indicative of a sum of the first product with the second product.