Work

Programmable optoelectronic Ising machine for direct third-order optimization

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Many combinatorial problems contain higher-order interactions, motivating physical solvers that implement these objectives without quadratization. We demonstrate an 88-spin programmable higher-order optoelectronic Ising machine that directly optimizes third-order objectives through a hybrid optoelectronic–FPGA loop. Time-multiplexed optoelectronic parametric oscillator pulses carry the evolving physical spin states, while the FPGA evaluates programmable third-order fields for reinjection. Direct higher-order optimization here refers to the complete feedback system, rather than intrinsic optical three-body interactions. Recorded spin and energy trajectories illustrate relaxation, alongside a phenomenological soft-spin simulation. The prototype is evaluated on third-order spin glasses and on reaching at least 98% clause satisfaction in 3-SAT benchmark instances. For this approximate target, the third-order implementation attains lower estimated time and energy to target than the quadratized second-order control over the tested sizes, while requiring fewer auxiliary spins. The experiment demonstrates programmable third-order optimization through the combination of physical spin dynamics and digital interaction-field evaluation.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.615074