# Fudan University engineers demonstrate all-optical spike encoder prototype

- Published: 2026-11-07 04:28 UTC
- Section: Machines & Making › Electronics
- Tags: all-optical biomimetic spike encoder, Fabry-Perot laser neuron, neuromorphic computing, optical fiber communication, amplitude-to-rate encoding
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-899dfe6b743917a0fe9c678c_fudan_university_engineers/

**Researchers have built a fiber-compatible optical spike encoder reaching firing rates above 2.0 GHz for neuromorphic computing.**

![Fudan University engineers demonstrate all-optical spike encoder prototype](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/732475523be2aeaf.jpg)
*Hius1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

Researchers from Fudan University and Zhangjiang Laboratory have demonstrated an experimental all-optical biomimetic spike encoder based on an optically injected Fabry–Perot laser neuron. Published in Opto-Electronic Science, the study shows amplitude-to-rate linear encoding with spike rates exceeding 2.0 GHz and an encoding precision of approximately 5 bits [1].

Unlike earlier devices that were limited to binary spike outputs, the system creates a monotonic correlation where higher input optical intensity yields a higher spike firing rate [1]. Operating in the standard 1,550 nm telecommunication band, each generated spike consumes 0.5 pJ of energy [1].

## System integration and performance

The setup operates by tuning laser injection power, frequency detuning, and bias current. In testing with the MNIST dataset, the system achieved a handwritten digit classification accuracy of over 94.1% [1]. Beyond static data, the system successfully translated continuous physiological and audio signals into spike sequences [1].

## Fiber network compatibility

The researchers established an architecture compatible with time-division and wavelength-division multiplexing. The encoding performance remained stable after transmitting optical spikes over 10 km of single-mode fiber [1].

Proof-of-concept tests demonstrated multi-user processing of medical signals, including chest X-ray radiography screening, electrocardiogram arrhythmia detection, and heart sound classification [1]. The architecture allows direct integration with existing fiber-optic communication infrastructure [1].

## Sources

1. [Opto-Electronic Science](https://doi.org/10.29026/oes.2026.260051)
2. [EurekAlert](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1150675)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-899dfe6b743917a0fe9c678c_fudan_university_engineers/