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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Coherent optical wavelength conversion via cavity optomechanics.
Jeff T Hill1, Amir H Safavi-Naeini, Jasper Chan
1Thomas J. Watson, Sr., Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., MS 128-95, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Nature Communications
|November 15, 2012
Summary
Researchers demonstrate coherent optical wavelength conversion using photon-phonon interactions in a cavity-optomechanical system. This breakthrough enables efficient frequency conversion for optical photons, crucial for integrating classical and quantum technologies.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Optomechanics
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Classical and quantum systems interact with light across various energies.
- Integrating systems with dissimilar photon wavelengths requires efficient conversion methods.
- Cavity-optomechanical systems offer a platform for light-matter interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate coherent wavelength conversion of optical photons.
- To utilize photon-phonon translation within a cavity-optomechanical system for frequency conversion.
- To analyze the thermal and quantum noise limitations of the conversion process.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical proposal and experimental demonstration of coherent wavelength conversion.
- Utilizing an engineered silicon optomechanical crystal nanocavity with a 4-GHz phonon mode.
- Coherent conversion of optical signals over a 11.2 THz frequency span.
Main Results:
- Achieved coherent wavelength conversion of optical photons with 93% internal peak efficiency.
- Demonstrated conversion between cavity modes at 1,460 nm and 1,545 nm.
- Quantified low internal noise levels of 6 × 10⁻³ and 4 × 10⁻³ quanta for thermal and quantum noise, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Coherent wavelength conversion via photon-phonon translation is feasible in engineered optomechanical systems.
- The demonstrated method offers high efficiency and low noise for optical frequency conversion.
- This technique has significant implications for advancing integrated quantum and classical photonic technologies.
