On-chip multi-stage optical delay based on cascaded Brillouin light storage

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Applied Physics

Background:

• Optical signal delay is critical for applications like data centers, phased array antennas, and advanced computing.
• Existing methods for optical delay often require precise alignment of multiple resonant structures.
• Efficient and flexible optical delay mechanisms are needed for next-generation photonic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for achieving multi-stage optical signal delay.
• To implement this delay scheme on a photonic integrated circuit.
• To demonstrate control over delay stages using external optical pulses.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing cascaded Brillouin light storage for optical signal delay.
• Implementing resonant transfers between optical and acoustic domains.
• Employing external optical control pulses for managing delay stages.

Main Results:

• Achieved multi-stage optical signal delay within a photonic integrated circuit.
• Demonstrated arbitrary positioning of delay stages.
• Showcased control of cascaded delays solely via optical pulses, eliminating structural alignment needs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Brillouin light storage scheme offers a flexible and controllable approach to multi-stage optical delay.
• This method simplifies the integration of delay functionalities in photonic circuits.
• The technique holds promise for advancing optical communication, data processing, and computing architectures.