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Microwave Photonics Systems Based on Whispering-gallery-mode Resonators
Published on: August 5, 2013
Brillouin lasing with a CaF2 whispering gallery mode resonator.
Ivan S Grudinin1, Andrey B Matsko, Lute Maleki
1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109-8099, USA. grudinin@caltech.edu
Physical Review Letters
|March 5, 2009
Summary
This study demonstrates stimulated Brillouin scattering in a calcium fluoride resonator, achieving a low 3 μW lasing threshold. This advancement is enabled by whispering gallery modes and resonator morphology for efficient light-matter interaction.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Acoustic-Optics
Background:
- Whispering gallery mode resonators offer high optical quality factors (Q).
- Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is a nonlinear optical process.
- Controlling SBS in micro-resonators is crucial for integrated photonics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in resonance with whispering gallery modes (WGMs) of a calcium fluoride (CaF2) resonator.
- To achieve a low Brillouin lasing threshold.
- To investigate the role of resonator morphology in SBS efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a calcium fluoride (CaF2) resonator with ultrahigh Q factor.
- Pumped the resonator with 1064 nm light.
- Observed SBS by analyzing the interaction between optical modes and hypersound waves.
Main Results:
- Achieved SBS with both pump and Stokes beams in resonance with WGMs.
- Demonstrated a low Brillouin lasing threshold of 3 μW.
- Attributed scattering efficiency to the resonator's unique morphology minimizing phase mismatch.
Conclusions:
- First demonstration of SBS in resonance with WGMs in a CaF2 resonator.
- Ultrahigh Q CaF2 resonators are promising for low-threshold SBS devices.
- Resonator design is critical for optimizing nonlinear acoustic-optic interactions.
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