Robust class-gated single-pixel diffractive optical neural network with random-aberration-aware training

Abstract

Optical computing offers the theoretical potential for high-speed, energy-efficient inference, yet its practical deployment remains constrained by fundamental input-output bottlenecks, particularly the reliance on electronic sensors with limited frame rates and stringent alignment requirements between optical components. Here, we demonstrate an image-class-gated single-pixel DONN that overcomes these limitations by converting spatial complexity into a temporal intensity signature. Using a minimal architecture comprising a reconfigurable digital micromirror device and a single-pixel photodetector, we implement a virtual optical gate. The system time-multiplexes class-specific masks, causing the detector response to peak only when the mask index matches the input class. This allows the predicted label to be read out via peak timing rather than spatial localization, eliminating 2D sensor constraints. To bridge the persistent sim-to-real gap, we introduce a physics-aware training strategy using random-phase augmentation. This method renders the model intrinsically tolerant to phase aberrations and mechanical misalignments without requiring precise hardware modeling. Our prototype achieves 90.0%(MNIST) and 80.0% (Fashion-MNIST) accuracy at a readout rate of 5 kHz. By combining gigahertz-compatible single-pixel detection with robust and alignment-tolerant training, this work provides a scalable, hardware-efficient pathway toward real-time optical intelligent sensing.