Dispersion-aware modeling framework for parallel optical computing

Abstract Optical computing represents a groundbreaking technology that leverages the unique properties of photons, with innate parallelism standing as its most compelling advantage. Parallel optical computing based on cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) mesh offers powerful computational capabilities but also introduces new challenges, particularly concerning dispersion due to the introduction of new frequencies. In this work, we extend existing theories of cascaded MZI systems to develop a generalized model tailored for wavelength-multiplexed parallel optical computing. Our comprehensive model incorporates component dispersion characteristics into a wavelength-dependent transfer matrix framework and is experimentally validated. We propose a computationally efficient compensation strategy that reduces global dispersion error within a 40 nm range from 0.22 to 0.039 using edge-spectrum calibration. This work establishes a fundamental framework for a dispersion-aware model and error correction in MZI-based parallel optical computing chip, significantly advancing the reliability of multi-wavelength photonic processors.