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Microwave Photonics Systems Based on Whispering-gallery-mode Resonators
Published on: August 5, 2013
All-optical signal processing at ultra-low powers in bottle microresonators using the Kerr effect
Michael Pöllinger1, Arno Rauschenbeutel
1Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
Optics Express
|August 20, 2010
Summary
This study demonstrates ultra-low power all-optical switching and optical memory using a novel silica bottle microresonator. The device achieves bistable behavior at record-low power thresholds, enabling efficient signal routing.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators are crucial for nonlinear optics.
- Achieving high Q-factors and small mode volumes simultaneously is challenging.
- Previous devices required high optical power for nonlinear effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nonlinear optical applications using a silica bottle microresonator.
- To demonstrate ultra-low power all-optical switching and optical memory.
- To leverage the unique Q(2)/V-ratio for enhanced device performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a silica bottle microresonator with ultrahigh Q > 10^8 and small mode volume.
- Utilizing the Kerr effect for all-optical switching.
- Implementing an add-drop configuration with two tapered fiber waveguides.
Main Results:
- Observed bistable behavior at very low optical powers.
- Achieved single-wavelength all-optical switching at a record-low threshold of 50 microW.
- Demonstrated efficient CW optical signal routing and optical memory functionality.
Conclusions:
- The silica bottle microresonator enables unprecedented ultra-low power nonlinear photonic applications.
- The high Q(2)/V-ratio is key to achieving low-threshold optical switching and memory.
- This technology holds promise for future integrated photonic circuits and devices.
