Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Silicon Nanowires and Optical Stimulation for Investigations of Intra- and Intercellular Electrical Coupling
Published on: January 28, 2021
An octave-spanning mid-infrared frequency comb generated in a silicon nanophotonic wire waveguide
Bart Kuyken1, Takuro Ideguchi2, Simon Holzner3
11] Photonics Research Group, Department of Information Technology, Ghent University-imec, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium [2] Center for Nano- and Biophotonics (NB-Photonics), Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Researchers developed a new method for broadening mid-infrared laser frequency combs using silicon nanophotonic waveguides. This breakthrough enables wider spectral coverage for advanced molecular spectroscopy and sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Laser frequency combs offer precise light sources with numerous applications in molecular spectroscopy and sensing.
- Generating broadband coherent sources, especially in the mid-infrared, is crucial but faces significant technical challenges.
- Existing methods for spectral broadening often require complex setups or specialized nonlinear media.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore a novel approach for spectral broadening of mid-infrared frequency combs.
- To investigate the use of CMOS-compatible silicon nanophotonic waveguides for this purpose.
- To achieve octave-spanning spectra with low input pulse energy.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing dispersion-engineered silicon nanophotonic waveguides fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator chip.
- Employing a mid-infrared laser frequency comb as the input source.
- Characterizing the generated spectra to confirm broadband generation and coherence.
Main Results:
- Achieved octave-spanning spectra from 1,500 to 3,300 nm.
- Required a coupled input pulse energy as low as 16 pJ.
- Demonstrated phase-coherent comb spectra broadened on a room-temperature-operating chip.
Conclusions:
- CMOS-compatible silicon nanophotonic waveguides provide a versatile and efficient platform for spectral broadening of mid-infrared frequency combs.
- This approach overcomes previous limitations, paving the way for advanced mid-infrared spectroscopy and sensing.
- The demonstrated technology is compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes.
