Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Integrated optical auto-correlator based on third-harmonic generation in a silicon photonic crystal waveguide
Christelle Monat1, Christian Grillet1, Matthew Collins2
11] Université de Lyon, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL) UMR 5270, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 69130 Ecully, France [2] CUDOS, Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
Researchers developed a compact, chip-based device for measuring ultrashort optical pulses without external equipment. This breakthrough enables on-chip diagnostics for material science and photonics applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Material Science
- Integrated Optics
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- Measuring short optical pulses is crucial for material science and applications.
- Current free-space methods are established, but on-chip integration offers significant advantages in size, cost, and performance.
- Existing integrated techniques often require external components like spectrometers or reference pulses, limiting their practicality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact, on-chip device for single-shot time-domain measurements of picosecond optical pulses.
- To achieve sub-picosecond timescale measurements at sub-watt peak power levels.
- To enable integrated photonic devices that operate without external instrumentation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optical third-harmonic generation (THG) in a slow-light silicon waveguide.
- Developed an ultra-compact, CMOS-compatible integrated device.
- Demonstrated single-shot measurement capability for near-infrared picosecond pulses.
Main Results:
- Achieved single-shot time-domain measurements of near-infrared picosecond pulses.
- The integrated device operates without external spectrometers or synchronized reference pulses.
- The method can map pulse propagation dynamics in photonic crystals at visible wavelengths.
Conclusions:
- Reported a novel, ultra-compact integrated device for on-chip measurement of ultrashort optical pulses.
- The device enables sub-picosecond timescale measurements without external instrumentation, crucial for integrated photonics.
- This technology has potential applications in material science and as an in situ diagnostic tool for photonic devices.
