Researchers have introduced a technique to use optics in probabilistic computing. In their work, they demonstrated that there are nonlinear optical phenomena that are highly suitable for resolving a graphical probabilistic model.

The graphene based thin films for optical computing were created at the University of Eastern Finland in Professor Yuri Svirko’s nanocarbon laboratory.

“Graphical probabilistic models are commonly used when in case of a large number of complex interacting data points. These models can be utilized for instance in machine vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, speech recognition and computational biology,” says Tommi Kaplas, a senior researcher who works now in Vilnius at the Center for physical sciences and technology.

“To process a large number of complex interacting data points require efficient computers, while optically the solution could be obtained more naturally. By the presented optical techniques, the computing could be done faster and more efficiently than by those conventional manners.

“The optical computing was done by graphene-like materials, which have recently shown great potential in optics.”

The research was done in collaboration with the University of Arizona, the University of Eastern Finland, and Georgia Institute of Technology.

The results of the study were published in Nature Communications.

Source: University of Eastern Finland