Artificial spiking neuron based on a single-photon avalanche diode and a microcavity laser

We present an experimental realization and characterization of artificial spiking neuron based on an optoelectronic pair "microcavity laser-single photon avalanche diode" operating in few photon regime. We show that basic properties of biological neurons, such as an existence of the threshold and the refractory period, the insensitivity to the effect of the stimuli strength above the threshold, and the dependence of the neuron fire rate of the stimuli strength, can be realized with such a type of artificial neuron. To compare, we present corresponding results of the numerical simulation in the framework of the FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron model. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.