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Dispersion engineering by rotational symmetry breaking in an optical microcavity
Jian-Zheng Ren1, Li-Jie Li1, Rui-Qi Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, New Cornerstone Science Labotatory, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|January 21, 2026
Summary
Breaking rotational symmetry in optical microcavities enables novel dispersion engineering. This approach achieves efficient optical parametric oscillation and controlled second-harmonic generation, overcoming material limitations.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Optics
- Optical Microcavities
- Photonics
Background:
- Dispersion engineering is crucial for nonlinear optics.
- Material and structural limitations hinder traditional methods.
- Optical microcavities offer a platform for light manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish rotational symmetry breaking as a principle for dispersion engineering.
- To achieve multi-branch global dispersion and control local dispersion.
- To demonstrate applications in nonlinear optical processes.
Main Methods:
- Boundary deformation of optical microcavities.
- Utilizing island modes for global dispersion.
- Employing resonance-assisted tunneling for local dispersion control.
- Investigating quasi-whispering gallery modes.
Main Results:
- Emergence of multi-branch global dispersion via boundary deformation.
- Control of local dispersion through resonance-assisted tunneling.
- Prediction of high-efficiency optical parametric oscillation (>55%) in the blue-violet spectrum.
- Regulation of doubly-resonant second-harmonic generation.
Conclusions:
- Rotational symmetry breaking is a powerful tool for dispersion engineering in microcavities.
- This method overcomes limitations of traditional approaches.
- Enables efficient nonlinear optical processes like OPO and SHG.
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