Broadband stimulated four-wave parametric conversion on a tantalum pentoxide photonic chip

We exploit the large third order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(3) or "Chi 3") of tantalum pentoxide (Ta(2)O(5)) planar waveguides and realize broadband optical parametric conversion on-chip. We use a co-linear pump-probe configuration and observe stimulated four wave parametric conversion when seeding either in the visible or the infrared. Pumping at 800 nm we observe parametric conversion over a broad spectral range with the parametric idler output spanning from 1200 nm to 1600 nm in infrared wavelengths and from 555 nm to 600 nm in visible wavelengths. Our demonstration of on-chip stimulated four wave parametric conversion introduces Ta(2)O(5) as a novel material for broadband integrated nonlinear photonic circuit applications.