Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
10:35
Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
12.4K
Synthetic dimension band structures on a Si CMOS photonic platform
Armandas Balčytis1, Tomoki Ozawa2, Yasutomo Ota3,4
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan.
Science Advances
|January 28, 2022
Summary
Researchers created a synthetic frequency dimension on a silicon chip, enabling the study of complex topological phenomena. This photonic device mimics higher dimensions using light, paving the way for advanced topological science applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Topological Science
- Integrated Photonics
- Quantum Simulation
Background:
- Synthetic dimensions offer novel ways to model higher-dimensional phenomena.
- Photonic devices are promising platforms for simulating complex physical systems.
- Topological principles are increasingly applied across scientific disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To realize and demonstrate a synthetic frequency dimension on a silicon photonic chip.
- To investigate the creation of gauge potentials within this synthetic dimension.
- To establish a platform for exploring topological physics using integrated photonics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a silicon ring resonator integrated photonic device using CMOS technology.
- Generation of wide-bandwidth optical frequency comb-like spectra (up to 280 GHz).
- Measurement of synthetic band structures and coupled mode lattices.
- Implementation of modulation detuning for electric field analog and synchronized couplings for effective magnetic fields.
Main Results:
- First experimental realization of a synthetic frequency dimension on a silicon photonic chip.
- Confirmation of coupled modes matching a one-dimensional tight-binding model.
- Successful creation of electric and effective magnetic field analogs.
- Demonstration of tunable gauge potentials within the synthetic dimension.
Conclusions:
- The developed silicon CMOS device provides a robust platform for synthetic dimension physics.
- This work is a significant step towards utilizing topological principles in integrated photonic devices.
- Enables future research in higher-dimensional topological phenomena and quantum simulations.
