Bridging the Analog and the Probabilistic Computing Divide: Configuring Oscillator Ising Machines as P-bit Engines

Abstract: Oscillator Ising Machines (OIMs) and probabilistic bit (p-bit)-based computing platforms have emerged as promising paradigms for tackling complex combinatorial optimization problems. Although traditionally viewed as distinct approaches, this work presents a theoretically grounded framework for configuring OIMs as p-bit engines. We demonstrate that this functionality can be enabled through a novel interplay between first- and second harmonic injection to the oscillators. Our work identifies new synergies between the two methods and broadens the scope of applications for OIMs. We further show that the proposed approach can be applied to other analog dynamical systems, such as the Dynamical Ising Machine.