Controlled storage of light in silicon cavities

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Free-carrier loss is a significant challenge in optical delay lines, limiting their performance.
• Existing optical delay elements often suffer from signal degradation and limited storage times.
• Microcavity systems offer potential for novel optical functionalities but require precise control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a tunable optical delay element.
• To achieve insensitivity to free-carrier loss.
• To enable arbitrary storage and release of light pulses using dynamic microcavity tuning.

Main Methods:

• Experimental demonstration of a tunable delay element.
• Utilizing a system of dynamically tuned microcavities.
• Characterizing the delay, storage time, and loss insensitivity.

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 300 picoseconds (ps) of optical delay.
• Demonstrated inherent insensitivity to free-carrier loss.
• Exhibited arbitrary storage and release of light pulses.
• Obtained an inherent storage time over 32 times the duration of the stored pulse.

Conclusions:

• The developed microcavity-based tunable delay element offers a promising solution for optical buffering.
• The device's insensitivity to free-carrier loss and long storage times are key advantages for optical signal processing.
• Dynamic tuning of microcavities provides a versatile platform for advanced photonic functionalities.