Harnessing microcomb-based parallel chaos for random number generation and optical decision making

Optical chaos is vital for various applications such as private communication, encryption, anti-interference sensing, and reinforcement learning. Chaotic microcombs have emerged as promising sources for generating massive optical chaos. However, their inter-channel correlation behavior remains elusive, limiting their potential for on-chip parallel chaotic systems with high throughput. In this study, we present massively parallel chaos based on chaotic microcombs and high-nonlinearity AlGaAsOI platforms. We demonstrate the feasibility of generating parallel chaotic signals with inter-channel correlation <0.04 and a high random number generation rate of 3.84 Tbps. We further show the application of our approach by demonstrating a 15-channel integrated random bit generator with a 20 Gbps channel rate using silicon photonic chips. Additionally, we achieved a scalable decision-making accelerator for up to 256-armed bandit problems. Our work opens new possibilities for chaos-based information processing systems using integrated photonics, and potentially can revolutionize the current architecture of communication, sensing and computations. Previous chaos suffers from limited parallelism for high-speed systems. Here the authors harness chaotic microcombs as parallel chaos, demonstrating low inter-channel correlation and high throughput for random bit generation and optical decision making.

Automated summary

In this study, the authors present massively parallel chaos based on chaotic microcombs and high nonlinearity AlGaAsOI platforms. They demonstrate the feasibility of generating parallel chaotic signals with low inter-channel correlation and high random number generation rate. The authors also showcase the application of their approach in integrated random bit generation and optical decision making, paving the way for chaos-based information processing systems using integrated photonics.