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Microwave Photonics Systems Based on Whispering-gallery-mode Resonators
Published on: August 5, 2013
Optical frequency comb generation from aluminum nitride microring resonator.
Hojoong Jung1, Chi Xiong, King Y Fong
1Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA.
Optics Letters
|August 2, 2013
Summary
High-quality aluminum nitride (AlN) microring resonators enable on-chip optical frequency comb generation. This advancement utilizes optimized phase matching for efficient wavelength conversion and nonlinear optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photonics
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a promising material for nonlinear optical applications.
- On-chip wavelength conversion is crucial for integrated photonic circuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate optical frequency comb generation using AlN microring resonators.
- To characterize the nonlinear optical properties of AlN for integrated photonics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of high-quality-factor AlN microring resonators on silicon substrates.
- Engineering waveguide dispersion for near-zero values at telecommunication wavelengths.
- Optimizing phase matching conditions for four-wave mixing (FWM).
Main Results:
- Successful generation of optical frequency combs using a single-wavelength continuous-wave pump laser.
- Demonstration of efficient nonlinear optical processes in AlN microring resonators.
- Extraction of the nonlinear refractive index (Kerr coefficient, n₂) of AlN from experimental data.
Conclusions:
- High-quality AlN microring resonators are suitable for on-chip optical frequency comb generation.
- Engineered AlN waveguides facilitate efficient nonlinear optical frequency conversion.
- The demonstrated Kerr coefficient of AlN is valuable for future integrated photonic device design.
