Photonic implementation of a neuronal algorithm applicable towards angle of arrival detection and localization

A photonic system exemplifying the neurobiological learning algorithm, spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP), is experimentally demonstrated using the cooperative effects of cross gain modulation and nonlinear polarization rotation within an SOA. Furthermore, an STDP-based photonic approach towards the measurement of the angle of arrival (AOA) of a microwave signal is developed, and a three-dimensional AOA localization scheme is explored. Measurement accuracies on the order of tens of centimeters, rivaling that of complex positioning systems that utilize a large distribution of measuring units, are achieved for larger distances and with a simpler setup using just three STDP-based AOA units.