Hybrid‐Mode‐Family Kerr Optical Parametric Oscillation for Robust Coherent Light Generation on Chip. Issue 7 (7th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Feng; Lu, Xiyuan; Rao, Ashutosh; Stone, Jordan; Moille, Gregory; Perez, Edgar; Westly, Daron; Srinivasan, Kartik
• Is Part Of: Laser & photonics reviews. Volume 16:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07
• Subjects: χ(3)${\chi}^{(3)}$ optical parametric oscillation -- coherent light generation -- integrated microresonators -- transverse spatial modes; Lasers -- Periodicals; Photonics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Périodiques; Photonique -- Périodiques; 621.36
• DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202100582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-8880

Abstract

Abstract: Optical parametric oscillation (OPO) using the third‐order nonlinearity ( χ ( 3 ) $\chi ^{(3)}$ ) in integrated photonics platforms is an emerging approach for coherent light generation, and has shown great promise in achieving broad spectral coverage with small device footprints and at low pump powers. However, current χ ( 3 ) $\chi ^{(3)}$ nanophotonic OPO devices use pump, signal, and idler modes of the same transverse spatial mode family. As a result, such single‐mode‐family OPO (sOPO) is inherently sensitive in dispersion and can be challenging to scalably fabricate and implement. In this work, a novel scheme is proposed using different families of transverse spatial modes for pump, signal, and idler, which is termed as hybrid‐mode‐family OPO (hOPO). The hOPO shows unprecedented robustness in dispersion versus device geometry, pump frequency, and temperature. Moreover, the hOPO is capable of generating a few milliwatts of output signal power with a conversion efficiency of ≈ $\approx$ 8 % $\%$ and without competitive processes. This hOPO scheme is an important counterpoint to the existing sOPO approach, and is particularly promising as a robust method to generate coherent on‐chip visible and infrared light sources. Abstract : A new approach to generating coherent light via third‐order optical parametric oscillation in chip‐integrated microresonators is explored, by using different families of transverse spatial modes for pump, signal, and idler. This scheme naturally limits competitive processes, leading to improved power conversion efficiency. Enhanced robustness with respect to device geometry, operating temperature, and pump frequency have also been demonstrated.