A Quantum-Enhanced Neuromorphic Photonic Architecture for Bio-Inspired Spectral Processing

Abstract

The persistent constraints of the von Neumann architecture have catalyzed research into alternative computing paradigms. Neuromorphic photonics, which leverages the speed and bandwidth of light to emulate brain-inspired processing, represents a promising frontier. This paper proposes a novel hybrid quantum-classical architecture for a specialized neuromorphic spectral co-processor realized on a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC). The architecture combines a classical spectral decomposition front-end, based on an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG), with a parallel array of Quantum-Plasmonic Reservoir Computers (QPRCs) for high-dimensional temporal processing. The central processing element-a glyph-like gold nanostructure-is interpreted as a quantum reservoir whose complex geometry is derived from AI-driven inverse design methodologies. This bio-inspired, "living circuit" approach harnesses principles of wave chaos, quantum superposition, and entanglement to achieve a computational capacity potentially orders of magnitude beyond classical counterparts. We detail the system's multi-scale processing hierarchy, analyze the theoretical foundations of its quantum advantage, and discuss its potential applications in complex signal classification and chaotic time-series prediction. This work outlines a path toward a new class of computational devices at the intersection of photonics, neuromorphic engineering, and quantum mechanics.