Experimental implementation of a biometric laser synaptic sensor

Sensors (Basel). 2013 Dec 16;13(12):17322-31. doi: 10.3390/s131217322.

Abstract

We fabricate a biometric laser fiber synaptic sensor to transmit information from one neuron cell to the other by an optical way. The optical synapse is constructed on the base of an erbium-doped fiber laser, whose pumped diode current is driven by a pre-synaptic FitzHugh-Nagumo electronic neuron, and the laser output controls a post-synaptic FitzHugh-Nagumo electronic neuron. The implemented laser synapse displays very rich dynamics, including fixed points, periodic orbits with different frequency-locking ratios and chaos. These regimes can be beneficial for efficient biorobotics, where behavioral flexibility subserved by synaptic connectivity is a challenge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biometry / methods*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Lasers*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology