Integrated phase-change photonics for memory and computing devices

Here we summarize the characteristics and functioning principles of the phase-change photonic memory cell, one of the main building blocks of a novel and inspiring avenue of work towards artificial intelligence next-gen computing.

The Fun-COMP project ( is a collaboration of 7 academic and industrial partners, focused to deliver the vision of a light-based computing architecture, reliant on the brain-mimicking hardware capability to learn and evolve.


Cited works:
- Device‐Level Photonic Memories and Logic Applications Using Phase‐Change Materials (
- Calculating with light using a chip-scale all-optical abacus (
- On-chip photonic synapse (

Video credits:
- E. Gemo, UoExeter (script, voice, edit)
- J. Shields, UoExeter (recording)
- Dr. N Youngblood, UoOxford (script)
- Prof. C.D. Wright, UoExeter (script)

Music credit:
- Bensound - Hip Jazz

A thanks to the XM2 Metamaterials CDT (UoExeter) for recording and editing instruments.

phase-change,photonics,artificial intelligence,neuromorphic computing,University of Oxford,University of Münster,Thales,C2N-CNRS,IMEC,IBM Zurich,University of Exeter,XM2,