Conflict-free joint decision by lag and zero-lag synchronization in
  laser network
Hisako Ito Takatomo Mihana Ryoichi Horisaki Makoto Naruse
With the end of Moore's Law and the increasing demand for computing, photonic
accelerators are garnering considerable attention. This is due to the physical
characteristics of light, such as high bandwidth and multiplicity, and the
various synchronization phenomena that emerge in the realm of laser physics.
These factors come into play as computer performance approaches its limits. In
this study, we explore the application of a laser network, acting as a photonic
accelerator, to the competitive multi-armed bandit problem. In this context,
conflict avoidance is key to maximizing environmental rewards. We
experimentally demonstrate cooperative decision-making using zero-lag and lag
synchronization within a network of four semiconductor lasers. Lag
synchronization of chaos realizes effective decision-making and zero-delay
synchronization is responsible for the realization of the collision avoidance
function. We experimentally verified a low collision rate and high reward in a
fundamental 2-player, 2-slot scenario, and showed the scalability of this
system. This system architecture opens up new possibilities for intelligent
functionalities in laser dynamics.