Widely tunable optical parametric oscillation in a Kerr microresonator

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Nonlinear Optics
• Microcavity Devices

Background:

• Parametric sideband generation is crucial for tunable light sources.
• Kerr microresonators offer a platform for nonlinear optical phenomena.
• Achieving broad tunability in microresonators remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate widely tunable parametric sideband generation.
• To investigate the role of higher-order dispersion in phase matching.
• To validate theoretical predictions for sideband generation in microresonators.

Main Methods:

• Pumping a silica microsphere in the normal dispersion regime.
• Utilizing four-wave mixing (FWM) for sideband generation.
• Employing a low-power continuous-wave (CW) pump laser in the C-band.

Main Results:

• Achieved phase-matched FWM sidebands at large frequency detunings.
• Demonstrated over 720 nm of wavelength tunability.
• Observed excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical sideband wavelengths.

Conclusions:

• First experimental demonstration of widely tunable parametric sideband generation in a Kerr microresonator.
• Higher-order dispersion is key to enabling phase matching for broad tunability.
• The results validate theoretical models and highlight the potential of microresonators for tunable light sources.