| CPC G02F 1/3517 (2013.01) [G02F 1/3503 (2021.01); G02F 1/3556 (2013.01); G02F 1/365 (2013.01); H01S 5/3412 (2013.01); H01S 5/343 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |

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1. A nonlinear activation device, comprising:
an interferometer comprising a first branch formed of a first waveguide and a second branch formed of a second waveguide;
a resonator cavity coupled to the first waveguide;
at least one phase-shift mechanism coupled to one of the second waveguide and the resonator cavity, the at least one phase-shift mechanism configured to control biases of the interferometer to achieve a desired activation function at an output of the interferometer; and
an optical amplification mechanism coupled to the output of the interferometer and configured to add optical gain to the desired activation function, wherein the optical amplification mechanism comprises:
a cathode formed on a third waveguide coupled to the output of the interferometer;
a mesa structure formed on the cathode, the mesa structure comprising an optically active medium; and
an anode formed on the mesa structure,
wherein the cathode is formed between the third waveguide and the anode, and
wherein the optically active medium emits light based on a bias applied between the cathode and the anode.
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