Abstract
Digital signal processing has become central to many fields, from
coherent optical telecommunications where it is used to compensate
signal impairments, to video image processing. Image processing in
particular is important for observational astronomy, medical diagnosis,
autonomous driving, big data and particularly artificial intelligence.
Digital signal processing is mainly performed electronically, but new
applications, particularly those involving real time video image
processing, are creating unprecedented demand for ultrahigh performance,
including bandwidth and reduced energy consumption. Here, we demonstrate
a photonic digital signal processor operating at 18 Terabits/s and use
it to process multiple simultaneous video signals in real-time. The
system processes 400,000 video signals concurrently, performing 34
functions simultaneously that are key to object edge detection, edge
enhancement and motion blur. As compared with spatial-light devices used
for image processing, our system is not only ultra-high speed but highly
reconfigurable and programable, able to perform many different functions
without any change to the physical hardware. Our approach, based on an
integrated Kerr soliton crystal microcomb, opens up new avenues for
ultrafast robotic vision and machine learning.