IllumemOptical working state / Brisbane

Illumem / Recurrent photonic compute research

Keep the state
in light.

Illumem is developing an inference architecture for sequence models with compact recurrent state: selected transforms in MZI meshes, with the model's live working state carried in a coherent optical loop between updates. The compiler transfer works in software. The loop now has to work in physics.

Now Compiler transfer in software Next / fibre-loop bench
ILM / 01

Proposed optical signal path

Architecture / not hardware

A proposed signal path. Encoded light enters an interferometer mesh and updates a coherent optical loop. Most of the field remains in the loop while a weak tap sends a fraction to a detector. The detected fraction is absorbed. No physical photonic system has been built.

  1. 01Inputencoded light
  2. 02MZI meshselected transform
  3. 03State loopcoherent feedback
  4. 04Readoutphotodetection
Vector architecture sketch. Direction markers illustrate the hypothesis; they are not measured optical waveforms or evidence of indefinite field survival.

Architecture / proposed

A loop, not a memory wall.

The working hypothesis is to perform selected transforms in an interferometer mesh and carry a compact working state forward as a coherent field between sequence updates. This is volatile inference state—not a chat archive or shared database. Durable memory remains digital; the proposed advantage is keeping the recurrent path optical between updates.

  1. 01 / Encode

    Put the input onto light.

    An electrical input modulates an optical carrier. This is where electronic control meets the optical path.

  2. 02 / Transform

    Route through the mesh.

    A programmed MZI mesh represents selected dense linear transforms. Real hardware will add loss, noise and phase error.

  3. 03 / Retain

    Carry working state forward.

    The proposed loop would carry compact coherent state between updates. Its usable lifetime, fidelity, gain and phase stability are the decisive physical unknowns.

  4. 04 / Read

    Read a calibrated tap.

    A coherent receiver would measure a selected optical tap. The detected fraction is absorbed while the untapped field continues circulating. Tap loss, conversion, control and laser power remain in the full-system budget.

Software result / Mamba-130M / ideal mathematics

Compiler transfer run

Selected projection tensors
96
Ideal MZI blocks
5,760
Mean block rel-Fro error
1.264 × 10−6

Across 89,653,248 of 129,135,360 checkpoint elements (69.43% coverage) and 11,520 mesh targets, selected dense projections were factorised and reconstructed in software using ideal simulated MZI factors. These are not measurements of optical execution, energy, latency or fabricated hardware. Read the run note and reproducibility limits.

Evidence register / current

Software first.
Hardware next.

The current result shows that selected Mamba-130M projections can be represented and reconstructed with ideal MZI factors. It does not show that optical state survives a physical loop.

ILM / DEMONSTRATED

Selected compiler transfer

The implemented evidence is a software pipeline, not a photonic processor.

Checkpoint
Mamba-130M
Coverage
69.43%
Domain
Ideal MZI mathematics
ILM / NEXT

Physical fibre-loop bench

Measure the variables the software model cannot answer.

  • 01Coherent-state lifetime
  • 02Round-trip insertion loss
  • 03Phase drift and noise
  • 04End-to-end wall power

Build / measure / publish

Prove the first loop
with us.

We are looking for photonics, controls and hardware collaborators who care about measured systems—not simulated headlines.

Propose a research collaboration