1
|
Cooper A, Olivieri L, Cutrona A, Das D, Peters L, Chu ST, Little B, Morandotti R, Moss DJ, Peccianti M, Pasquazi A. Parametric interaction of laser cavity-solitons with an external CW pump. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:21783-21794. [PMID: 38859524 DOI: 10.1364/oe.524838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
We study the interaction of a laser cavity-soliton microcomb with an externally coupled, co-propagating tunable CW pump, observing parametric Kerr interactions which lead to the formation of both a cross-phase modulation and a four-wave mixing replica of the laser cavity-soliton. We compare and explain the dependence of the microcomb spectra from both the cavity-soliton and pump parameters, demonstrating the ability to adjust the microcomb externally without breaking or interfering with the soliton state. The parametric nature of the process agrees with numerical simulations. The parametric extended state maintains the typical robustness of laser-cavity solitons.
Collapse
|
2
|
Li P, Li Q, Tang W, Wang W, Zhang W, Little BE, Chu ST, Shore KA, Qin Y, Wang Y. Scalable parallel ultrafast optical random bit generation based on a single chaotic microcomb. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:66. [PMID: 38438369 PMCID: PMC10912654 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Random bit generators are critical for information security, cryptography, stochastic modeling, and simulations. Speed and scalability are key challenges faced by current physical random bit generation. Herein, we propose a massively parallel scheme for ultrafast random bit generation towards rates of order 100 terabit per second based on a single micro-ring resonator. A modulation-instability-driven chaotic comb in a micro-ring resonator enables the simultaneous generation of hundreds of independent and unbiased random bit streams. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates that using our method, random bit streams beyond 2 terabit per second can be successfully generated with only 7 comb lines. This bit rate can be easily enhanced by further increasing the number of comb lines used. Our approach provides a chip-scale solution to random bit generation for secure communication and high-performance computation, and offers superhigh speed and large scalability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pu Li
- Institute of Advanced Photonics Technology, School of Information Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Technology for Integrated Sensing and Communication, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Photonics Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Qizhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Transducers and Intelligent Control System, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Wenye Tang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Transducers and Intelligent Control System, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Weiqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Wenfu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Brent E Little
- State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Sai Tek Chu
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - K Alan Shore
- School of Electronic Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, LL57 1UT, UK
| | - Yuwen Qin
- Institute of Advanced Photonics Technology, School of Information Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Technology for Integrated Sensing and Communication, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Photonics Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Yuncai Wang
- Institute of Advanced Photonics Technology, School of Information Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Technology for Integrated Sensing and Communication, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Photonics Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xiao Y, Qian S, Bai Q, Wen H, Geng Y, Wang Y, Lai H, Yao B, Qiu K, Xu J, Zhou H. Optimizing auxiliary laser heating for Kerr soliton microcomb generation. OPTICS LETTERS 2024; 49:1129-1132. [PMID: 38426955 DOI: 10.1364/ol.513721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Auxiliary laser heating has become a widely adopted method for Kerr soliton frequency comb generation in optical microcavities, thanks to its reliable and easy-to-achieve merits for solving the thermal instability during the formation of dissipative Kerr solitons. Here, we conduct optimization of auxiliary laser heating by leveraging the distinct loss and absorption characteristics of different longitudinal and polarization cavity modes. We show that even if the auxiliary and pump lasers enter orthogonal polarization modes, their mutual photothermal balance can be efficient enough to maintain a cavity thermal equilibrium as the pump laser enters the red-detuning soliton regime, and by choosing the most suitable resonance for the auxiliary and pump lasers, the auxiliary laser power can be reduced to 20% of the pump laser and still be capable of warranting soliton generation. Moreover, we demonstrate soliton comb generation using integrated laser modules with a few milliwatt on-chip pump and auxiliary powers, showcasing the potential for further chip integration of the auxiliary laser heating method.
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu R, Zhang C, Li Y, Li X, Lin J, He B, Chen Z, Xie X. Low-phase-noise microwave generation with a free-running dual-pumped Si 3N 4 soliton microcomb. OPTICS LETTERS 2024; 49:754-757. [PMID: 38300107 DOI: 10.1364/ol.511039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Microwave signals can be generated by photodetecting the repetition frequencies of the soliton microcombs. In comparison to other methods, the dual-pumped method allows for the stable generation of the soliton microcombs even with resonators having lower Q-factors. However, introducing an additional pump laser may affect the phase noise of the generated microwave signals when using these dual-pumped soliton microcombs. Here, we investigate the factors that could influence the phase noise of microwave signals generated with dual-pumped soliton microcombs, including the polarization, amplitude noise, and phase noise of the two pumps. We demonstrate a 25.25 (12.63) GHz microwave with phase noise reaching -112(-118) dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset frequency, surpassing the performance of previous reports on microwave generation using free-running Si3N4 soliton microcombs, even those generated with higher Q microresonators. We analyze the noise floor of the generated microwave signals and establish a phase noise simulation model to study the limiting factors in our system. Our work highlights the potential of generating low-phase-noise microwave signals using free-running dual-pumped soliton microcombs.
Collapse
|
5
|
Moille G, Stone J, Chojnacky M, Shrestha R, Javid UA, Menyuk C, Srinivasan K. Kerr-induced synchronization of a cavity soliton to an optical reference. Nature 2023; 624:267-274. [PMID: 38092906 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06730-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The phase-coherent frequency division of a stabilized optical reference laser to the microwave domain is made possible by optical-frequency combs (OFCs)1,2. OFC-based clockworks3-6 lock one comb tooth to a reference laser, which probes a stable atomic transition, usually through an active servo that increases the complexity of the OFC photonic and electronic integration for fieldable clock applications. Here, we demonstrate that the Kerr nonlinearity enables passive, electronics-free synchronization of a microresonator-based dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) OFC7 to an externally injected reference laser. We present a theoretical model explaining this Kerr-induced synchronization (KIS), which closely matches experimental results based on a chip-integrated, silicon nitride, micro-ring resonator. Once synchronized, the reference laser captures an OFC tooth, so that tuning its frequency provides direct external control of the OFC repetition rate. We also show that the stability of the repetition rate is linked to that of the reference laser through the expected frequency division factor. Finally, KIS of an octave-spanning DKS exhibits enhancement of the opposite dispersive wave, consistent with the theoretical model, and enables improved self-referencing and access to the OFC carrier-envelope offset frequency. The KIS-mediated enhancements we demonstrate can be directly implemented in integrated optical clocks and chip-scale low-noise microwave generators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Moille
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | - Jordan Stone
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Michal Chojnacky
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Rahul Shrestha
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Usman A Javid
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Curtis Menyuk
- University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kartik Srinivasan
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pan J, Huang T, Xu C, Xu G, Wu Z, Zhang J, Li X, Cheng Z, Zhang N, Yu H, Yin Z, Yin J, Huang B. Binding dynamics of cavity solitons in a Kerr resonator with high order dispersion. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:35709-35719. [PMID: 38017736 DOI: 10.1364/oe.499715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Cavity solitons are persistent light pulses arising from the externally driven Kerr resonators. Thanks to the passive parametric gain, cavity soliton has been endowed with the natural advantage of the chip-scaled integration since it was first experimentally generated in the fiber-based platform. Deterministic single soliton with smooth spectrum is a preferred state for numerous applications. However, multiple solitons are more common in the resonators with anomalous dispersion. In this condition, adjacent solitons are easily perturbed to attract and collide with each other. Some experimental observations deviated from the aforementioned description have recorded the stable soliton intervals that can last for a long time scale. This phenomenon is known as soliton binding and is attributed to the presence of narrow resonant sidebands in the spectrum. While the stationary configuration of two binding solitons has been investigated, the dynamical evolution remains an area for further exploration. In this paper, we discuss the binding dynamics of the cavity solitons in the presence of high-order dispersion. The proposed theoretical predictions match well with the numerical results, encompassing both the stationary stable intervals and dynamic trajectories. Our research will provide a comprehensive insight into the soliton motion induced by the internal perturbations.
Collapse
|
7
|
Murnieks R, Salgals T, Alnis J, Ostrovskis A, Ozolins O, Brice I, Sedulis A, Draguns K, Lyashuk I, Berkis R, Udalcovs A, Bi T, Pang X, Porins J, Spolitis S, Del'Haye P, Bobrovs V. Silica micro-rod resonator-based Kerr frequency comb for high-speed short-reach optical interconnects. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:20306-20320. [PMID: 37381428 DOI: 10.1364/oe.488436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Conventional data center interconnects rely on power-hungry arrays of discrete wavelength laser sources. However, growing bandwidth demand severely challenges ensuring the power and spectral efficiency toward which data center interconnects tend to strive. Kerr frequency combs based on silica microresonators can replace multiple laser arrays, easing the pressure on data center interconnect infrastructure. Therefore, we experimentally demonstrate a bit rate of up to 100 Gbps/λ employing 4-level pulse amplitude modulated signal transmission over a 2 km long short-reach optical interconnect that can be considered a record using any Kerr frequency comb light source, specifically based on a silica micro-rod. In addition, data transmission using the non-return to zero on-off keying modulation format is demonstrated to achieve 60 Gbps/λ. The silica micro-rod resonator-based Kerr frequency comb light source generates an optical frequency comb in the optical C-band with 90 GHz spacing between optical carriers. Data transmission is supported by frequency domain pre-equalization techniques to compensate amplitude-frequency distortions and limited bandwidths of electrical system components. Additionally, achievable results are enhanced with offline digital signal processing, implementing post-equalization using feed-forward and feedback taps.
Collapse
|
8
|
Matsko AB, Maleki L. Low threshold Kerr solitons. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:715-718. [PMID: 36723571 DOI: 10.1364/ol.479572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pumping a nonlinear optical cavity with continuous wave coherent light can result in generation of a stable train of short optical pulses. Pumping the cavity with a non-degenerate resonant coherent dichromatic pump usually does not produce a stable mode-locked regime due to competition of the oscillations at the pump frequencies. We show that generation of stable optical pulses is feasible in a dichromatically pumped cavity characterized with group velocity dispersion optimized in a way that the group velocity value becomes identical for the generated pulses and the beat note of the pump harmonics. The power threshold of the process drops nearly four times in this case and the produced pulses become sub-harmonically locked to the dichromatic pump harmonics. The process is useful for generation of broadband optical frequency combs and optical time crystals.
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu Y, Liu S, Qureshi P, Erkintalo M, Coen S, Ma H, Murdoch SG. Inter-mode soliton linear-wave scattering in a Kerr microresonator. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:6301-6304. [PMID: 37219232 DOI: 10.1364/ol.475540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Soliton microresonator frequency combs (microcombs) have recently emerged as an attractive new type of optical comb source with a wide range applications proposed and demonstrated. To extend the optical bandwidth of these microresonator sources, several previous studies have proposed and studied the injection of an additional optical probe wave into the resonator. In this case, nonlinear scattering between the injected probe and the original soliton enables the formation of new comb frequencies through a phase-matched cascade of four-wave mixing processes. In this work, we expand the relevant analyses to consider soliton-linear wave interactions when the soliton and the probe fields propagate in different mode families. We obtain an expression for the phase-matched idler locations as a function of the dispersion of the resonator and the phase detuning of the injected probe. We confirm our theoretical predictions in experiments performed in a silica waveguide ring microresonator.
Collapse
|
10
|
Puzyrev DN, Skryabin DV. Frequency combs with multiple offsets in THz-rate microresonators. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:39396-39406. [PMID: 36298893 DOI: 10.1364/oe.473008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Octave-wide frequency combs in microresonators are essential for self-referencing. However, it is difficult for the small-size and high-repetition-rate microresonators to achieve perfect soliton modelocking over the broad frequency range due to the detrimental impact of dispersion. Here we examine the stability of the soliton states consisting of one hundred modes in silicon-nitride microresonators with the one-THz free spectral range. We report the coexistence of fast and slow solitons in a narrow detuning range, which is surrounded on either side by the breather states. We decompose the breather combs into a sequence of sub-combs with different carrier-envelope offset frequencies. The large detuning breathers have a high frequency of oscillations associated with the perturbation extending across the whole microresonator. The small detuning breathers create oscillations localised on the soliton core and can undergo the period-doubling bifurcation, which triggers a sequence of intense sub-combs.
Collapse
|
11
|
Choi G, Gin A, Su J. Optical frequency combs in aqueous and air environments at visible to near-IR wavelengths. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:8690-8699. [PMID: 35299315 PMCID: PMC8970704 DOI: 10.1364/oe.451631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The ability to detect and identify molecules at high sensitivity without the use of labels or capture agents is important for medical diagnostics, threat identification, environmental monitoring, and basic science. Microtoroid optical resonators, when combined with noise reduction techniques, have been shown capable of label-free single molecule detection; however, they still require a capture agent and prior knowledge of the target molecule. Optical frequency combs can potentially provide high precision spectroscopic information on molecules within the evanescent field of the microresonator; however, this has not yet been demonstrated in air or aqueous biological sensing. For aqueous solutions in particular, impediments include coupling and thermal instabilities, reduced Q factor, and changes to the mode spectrum. Here we overcome a key challenge toward single-molecule spectroscopy using optical microresonators: the generation of a frequency comb at visible to near-IR wavelengths when immersed in either air or aqueous solution. The required dispersion is achieved via intermodal coupling, which we show is attainable using larger microtoroids, but with the same shape and material that has previously been shown ideal for ultra-high sensitivity biosensing. We believe that the continuous evolution of this platform will allow us in the future to simultaneously detect and identify single molecules in both gas and liquid at any wavelength without the use of labels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwangho Choi
- College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Adley Gin
- College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Judith Su
- College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wu Z, Gao Y, Zhang T, Dai J, Xu K. Coexistence of multiple microcombs in monochromatically pumped Si 3N 4 microresonators. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:1190-1193. [PMID: 35230324 DOI: 10.1364/ol.451673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate that multiple microcombs can coexist in monochromatically pumped Si3N4 microresonators. By pumping around the mode crossing using a CW laser with mixed polarization, three types of coherent microcombs are generated simultaneously: (i) TE-polarized soliton microcomb; (ii) TM-polarized Turing rolls microcomb; and (iii) cross-phase-modulation-induced TM-polarized microcomb. It is proved that the type-(iii) microcomb shares the same comb line spacing with the type-(i) microcomb although the free spectral ranges of TE and TM modes are different. In addition, a 22.95-GHz signal is extracted from a ∼100-GHz microresonator by heterodyning the TE and TM comb lines, and phase noise analysis reveals their coherence characteristics.
Collapse
|
13
|
Shi JC, Ji QX, Cao QT, Yu Y, Liu W, Gong Q, Xiao YF. Vibrational Kerr Solitons in an Optomechanical Microresonator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:073901. [PMID: 35244428 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.073901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Kerr soliton microcombs in microresonators have been a prominent miniaturized coherent light source. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate the existence of Kerr solitons in an optomechanical microresonator, for which a nonlinear model is built by incorporating a single mechanical mode and multiple optical modes. Interestingly, an exotic vibrational Kerr soliton state is found, which is modulated by a self-sustained mechanical oscillation. Besides, the soliton provides extra mechanical gain through the optical spring effect, and results in phonon lasing with a red-detuned pump. Various nonlinear dynamics is also observed, including limit cycle, higher periodicity, and transient chaos. This work provides a guidance for not only exploring many-body nonlinear interactions, but also promoting precision measurements by featuring superiority of both frequency combs and optomechanics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Chen Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Xin Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Tao Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Yan Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Qihuang Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yun-Feng Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhang S, Bi T, Ghalanos GN, Moroney NP, Del Bino L, Del'Haye P. Dark-Bright Soliton Bound States in a Microresonator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:033901. [PMID: 35119896 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.033901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dissipative Kerr solitons in microresonators have facilitated the development of fully coherent, chip-scale frequency combs. In addition, dark soliton pulses have been observed in microresonators in the normal dispersion regime. Here, we report bound states of mutually trapped dark-bright soliton pairs in a microresonator. The soliton pairs are generated seeding two modes with opposite dispersion but with similar group velocities. One laser operating in the anomalous dispersion regime generates a bright soliton microcomb, while the other laser in the normal dispersion regime creates a dark soliton via Kerr-induced cross-phase modulation with the bright soliton. Numerical simulations agree well with experimental results and reveal a novel mechanism to generate dark soliton pulses. The trapping of dark and bright solitons can lead to light states with the intriguing property of constant output power while spectrally resembling a frequency comb. These results can be of interest for telecommunication systems, frequency comb applications, and ultrafast optics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyou Zhang
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Toby Bi
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Physics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - George N Ghalanos
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Niall P Moroney
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Del Bino
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pascal Del'Haye
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Physics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Moroney N, Del Bino L, Zhang S, Woodley MTM, Hill L, Wildi T, Wittwer VJ, Südmeyer T, Oppo GL, Vanner MR, Brasch V, Herr T, Del'Haye P. A Kerr polarization controller. Nat Commun 2022; 13:398. [PMID: 35046413 PMCID: PMC8770726 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27933-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kerr-effect-induced changes of the polarization state of light are well known in pulsed laser systems. An example is nonlinear polarization rotation, which is critical to the operation of many types of mode-locked lasers. Here, we demonstrate that the Kerr effect in a high-finesse Fabry-Pérot resonator can be utilized to control the polarization of a continuous wave laser. It is shown that a linearly-polarized input field is converted into a left- or right-circularly-polarized field, controlled via the optical power. The observations are explained by Kerr-nonlinearity induced symmetry breaking, which splits the resonance frequencies of degenerate modes with opposite polarization handedness in an otherwise symmetric resonator. The all-optical polarization control is demonstrated at threshold powers down to 7 mW. The physical principle of such Kerr effect-based polarization controllers is generic to high-Q Kerr-nonlinear resonators and could also be implemented in photonic integrated circuits. Beyond polarization control, the spontaneous symmetry breaking of polarization states could be used for polarization filters or highly sensitive polarization sensors when operating close to the symmetry-breaking point.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Moroney
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- QOLS, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - L Del Bino
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - S Zhang
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M T M Woodley
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- QOLS, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
- SUPA and Department of Physics, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
| | - L Hill
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, Scotland
| | - T Wildi
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - V J Wittwer
- Laboratoire Temps-Fréquence, Université de Neuchâtel, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - T Südmeyer
- Laboratoire Temps-Fréquence, Université de Neuchâtel, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - G-L Oppo
- SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, Scotland
| | - M R Vanner
- QOLS, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - V Brasch
- Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), Time and Frequency, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - T Herr
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- Physics Department, Universität Hamburg, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - P Del'Haye
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Physics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Moille G, Perez EF, Stone JR, Rao A, Lu X, Rahman TS, Chembo YK, Srinivasan K. Ultra-broadband Kerr microcomb through soliton spectral translation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7275. [PMID: 34907189 PMCID: PMC8671399 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadband and low-noise microresonator frequency combs (microcombs) are critical for deployable optical frequency measurements. Here we expand the bandwidth of a microcomb far beyond its anomalous dispersion region on both sides of its spectrum through spectral translation mediated by mixing of a dissipative Kerr soliton and a secondary pump. We introduce the concept of synthetic dispersion to qualitatively capture the system’s key physical behavior, in which the second pump enables spectral translation through four-wave mixing Bragg scattering. Experimentally, we pump a silicon nitride microring at 1063 nm and 1557 nm to enable soliton spectral translation, resulting in a total bandwidth of 1.6 octaves (137–407 THz). We examine the comb’s low-noise characteristics, through heterodyne beat note measurements across its spectrum, measurements of the comb tooth spacing in its primary and spectrally translated portions, and their relative noise. These ultra-broadband microcombs provide new opportunities for optical frequency synthesis, optical atomic clocks, and reaching previously unattainable wavelengths. Integrated optical frequency measurements, benefit from broadband on-chip frequency combs. Here the authors present a low-noise microcomb whose span extends from telecom to near-visible wavelengths. Here the authors present a dissipative Kerr soliton formation approximated by introducing the concept of synthetic dispersion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Moille
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. .,Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | - Edgar F Perez
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jordan R Stone
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Ashutosh Rao
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.,Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Xiyuan Lu
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.,Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Tahmid Sami Rahman
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yanne K Chembo
- Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kartik Srinivasan
- Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. .,Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sultan SE, Moczek AP, Walsh D. Bridging the explanatory gaps: What can we learn from a biological agency perspective? Bioessays 2021; 44:e2100185. [PMID: 34747061 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We begin this article by delineating the explanatory gaps left by prevailing gene-focused approaches in our understanding of phenotype determination, inheritance, and the origin of novel traits. We aim not to diminish the value of these approaches but to highlight where their implementation, despite best efforts, has encountered persistent limitations. We then discuss how each of these explanatory gaps can be addressed by expanding research foci to take into account biological agency-the capacity of living systems at various levels to participate in their own development, maintenance, and function by regulating their structures and activities in response to conditions they encounter. Here we aim to define formally what agency and agents are and-just as importantly-what they are not, emphasizing that agency is an empirical property connoting neither intention nor consciousness. Lastly, we discuss how incorporating agency helps to bridge explanatory gaps left by conventional approaches, highlight scientific fields in which implicit agency approaches are already proving valuable, and assess the opportunities and challenges of more systematically incorporating biological agency into research programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia E Sultan
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, USA
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Denis Walsh
- Department of Philosophy, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shafie MM, Kheradmand R, Ghahramani M, Prati F. Control of single and multiple phase solitons in a ring cavity. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2021; 31:093104. [PMID: 34598475 DOI: 10.1063/5.0060554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phase solitons are localized structures characterized by phase jumps of 2π or multiples arising in forced ring lasers. Here, we show numerically that they can be created by superimposing to the constant driving field a suitable control beam matched in frequency with a different cavity mode for a time of the order of ten cavity round trip times. If the two beams are separated in frequency by n free spectral ranges of the cavity, a train of solitons like a perfect soliton crystal consisting of n equispaced phase solitons is generated. This may represent a simple way to produce frequency combs with flexible frequency spacing and high power per line.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Reza Kheradmand
- Photonics Group, Faculty of Physics, University of Tabriz, 5166616471 Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghahramani
- Space Thrusters Research Institute, Zafaraniye, Mirdamad, East Azerbaijan Province, 5166616471 Tabriz, Iran
| | - Franco Prati
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, I-22100 Como, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lu Z, Chen HJ, Wang W, Yao L, Wang Y, Yu Y, Little BE, Chu ST, Gong Q, Zhao W, Yi X, Xiao YF, Zhang W. Synthesized soliton crystals. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3179. [PMID: 34039968 PMCID: PMC8154952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23172-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) featuring broadband coherent frequency comb with compact size and low power consumption, provides an unparalleled tool for nonlinear physics investigation and precise measurement applications. However, the complex nonlinear dynamics generally leads to stochastic soliton formation process and makes it highly challenging to manipulate soliton number and temporal distribution in the microcavity. Here, synthesized and reconfigurable soliton crystals (SCs) are demonstrated by constructing a periodic intra-cavity potential field, which allows deterministic SCs synthesis with soliton numbers from 1 to 32 in a monolithic integrated microcavity. The ordered temporal distribution coherently enhanced the soliton crystal comb lines power up to 3 orders of magnitude in comparison to the single-soliton state. The interaction between the traveling potential field and the soliton crystals creates periodic forces on soliton and results in forced soliton oscillation. Our work paves the way to effectively manipulate cavity solitons. The demonstrated synthesized SCs offer reconfigurable temporal and spectral profiles, which provide compelling advantages for practical applications such as photonic radar, satellite communication and radio-frequency filter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhizhou Lu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China
| | - Hao-Jing Chen
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqiang Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yao
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Yu
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - B. E. Little
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - S. T. Chu
- grid.35030.350000 0004 1792 6846Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Qihuang Gong
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China ,grid.495569.2Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, China ,grid.163032.50000 0004 1760 2008Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Yi
- grid.27755.320000 0000 9136 933XDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA USA ,grid.27755.320000 0000 9136 933XDepartment of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA USA
| | - Yun-Feng Xiao
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China ,grid.495569.2Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, China ,grid.163032.50000 0004 1760 2008Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Wenfu Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Weng H, Liu J, Afridi AA, Li J, Dai J, Ma X, Zhang Y, Lu Q, Donegan JF, Guo W. Octave-spanning Kerr frequency comb generation with stimulated Raman scattering in an AlN microresonator. OPTICS LETTERS 2021; 46:540-543. [PMID: 33528404 DOI: 10.1364/ol.416460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Octave-spanning optical frequency combs (OFCs) are essential for various applications, such as precision metrology and astrophysical spectrometer calibration. In this Letter, we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, the generation of octave-spanning Kerr frequency combs ranging from 1150 to 2400 nm in aluminum nitride (AlN) microring resonators, by pumping the TM00 modes at 250 mW on-chip power. By simply adjusting the pump detuning, we observe the transition and coexistence of Kerr OFC and stimulated Raman scattering. For the TE00 mode in the same device, a broadband Raman-assisted frequency comb is demonstrated by adjusting the pump power and tuning. These results indicate a crucial development for the fundamentals of nonlinear dynamics and comb applications in AlN.
Collapse
|