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Ultra-low-power hybrid light-matter solitons
P M Walker1, L Tinkler1, D V Skryabin2,3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, S3 7RH Sheffield, UK.
Nature Communications
|September 25, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a novel platform for nonlinear optics, achieving giant optical nonlinearity with picosecond bright temporal solitons at low pulse energy. This breakthrough promises high-speed, low-power integrated photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Quantum optics
- Integrated photonics
Background:
- Developing systems with giant optical nonlinearity is crucial for new functionalities in nonlinear optics.
- Compatibility with photonic circuit fabrication techniques is essential for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new platform based on strong light-matter coupling for enhanced nonlinear optical effects.
- To generate and characterize ultrafast solitons with significantly high nonlinearity.
- To investigate temporal and spatio-temporal nonlinear phenomena in the coupled system.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing strong light-matter coupling between waveguide photons and quantum-well excitons.
- Generating picosecond bright temporal solitons on a sub-millimetre scale.
- Measuring nonlinear refractive index and observing spatio-temporal polariton solitons.
- Employing theoretical modeling to confirm experimental findings.
Main Results:
- Achieved picosecond bright temporal solitons at a low pulse energy of 0.5 pJ.
- Deduced a nonlinear refractive index three orders of magnitude larger than in existing ultrafast systems.
- Observed dark-bright spatio-temporal polariton solitons.
- Experimental observations were confirmed by theoretical modeling.
Conclusions:
- The developed platform demonstrates significant potential for high-speed, low-power integrated photonic devices.
- Strong light-matter coupling provides a viable route to giant optical nonlinearity.
- The system is promising for fundamental physics research and novel device applications based on photon interactions.
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