Switchable supermode emission in a doubly-coupled-ring system for multifunctional integrated photonic devices

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Integrated Optics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Effective integration of optical modes in chip-scale devices is crucial for functional light emission.
• Controlling mode evolution offers versatile physics and device capabilities.
• Doubly-coupled-ring systems provide a platform for complex optical mode interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an efficient approach for switchable light emission.
• To demonstrate flexible control over supermode states in a doubly-coupled-ring system.
• To enable multifunctional emissions from fixed on-chip structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a doubly-coupled-ring system with four guided modes.
• Analyzing lasing conditions based on the system's Hamiltonian.
• Engineering the coupling rate using phase-change materials.

Main Results:

• Identified multiple supermode states: exceptional-point, (quasi-)dark, and bright states.
• Achieved switchable emission by controlling supermode states.
• Demonstrated the ability to generate desired states by engineering coupling rates.

Conclusions:

• The proposed system enables switchable and multifunctional emissions in fixed on-chip structures.
• Phase-change materials allow for flexible control of coupling rates.
• This work paves the way for integrated photonic devices with applications in light storage, optical isolation, and sensing.