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Self-phase-modulation induced spectral broadening in silicon waveguides.
Optics Express
|May 29, 2009
Summary
Generating supercontinuum pulses on silicon chips shows promise. Two-photon absorption (TPA) is a key nonlinear loss mechanism that limits optical bandwidth, but higher peak powers could achieve greater spectral broadening.
Area of Science:
- Integrated photonics
- Nonlinear optics
Background:
- Supercontinuum generation is crucial for various photonic applications.
- Silicon photonics offers a scalable platform for integrated optical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of generating supercontinuum pulses on a silicon chip.
- To analyze the impact of nonlinear effects, specifically two-photon absorption (TPA), on spectral broadening.
Main Methods:
- Experimental generation of supercontinuum using ~4 picosecond (ps) optical pulses.
- Theoretical modeling incorporating the effects of TPA.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 2-fold spectral broadening with ~4 ps pulses at 2.2 GW/cm² peak power.
- Theoretical calculations predict up to 5-fold spectral broadening at 10x higher peak powers.
- Identified TPA as a limiting factor for maximum optical bandwidth at high intensities.
Conclusions:
- Supercontinuum generation on silicon chips is achievable.
- Higher peak powers can significantly enhance spectral broadening.
- Mitigating nonlinear loss mechanisms like TPA is essential for maximizing optical bandwidth in silicon photonic devices.
