Parallel and deep reservoir computing using semiconductor lasers with optical feedback

Photonic reservoir computing has been intensively investigated to solve machine learning tasks effectively. A simple learning procedure of output weights is used for reservoir computing. However, the lack of training of input-node and inter-node connection weights limits the performance of reservoir computing. The use of multiple reservoirs can be a solution to overcome this limitation of reservoir computing. In this study, we investigate parallel and deep configurations of delay-based all-optical reservoir computing using semiconductor lasers with optical feedback by combining multiple reservoirs to improve the performance of reservoir computing. Furthermore, we propose a hybrid configuration to maximize the benefits of parallel and deep reservoirs. We perform the chaotic time-series prediction task, nonlinear channel equalization task, and memory capacity measurement. Then, we compare the performance of single, parallel, deep, and hybrid reservoir configurations. We find that deep reservoirs are suitable for a chaotic time-series prediction task, whereas parallel reservoirs are suitable for a nonlinear channel equalization task. Hybrid reservoirs outperform other configurations for all three tasks. We further optimize the number of reservoirs for each reservoir configuration. Multiple reservoirs show great potential for the improvement of reservoir computing, which in turn can be applied for high-performance edge computing.