Topological Hybrid Silicon Microlasers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel hybrid silicon microlaser that leverages topological photonics to achieve robust, single-mode lasing in a topologically protected zero-mode state, promising advancements in integrated silicon photonics.

Contribution

First experimental realization of a topologically protected zero-mode laser in a hybrid silicon microlaser structure, combining topological photonics with silicon photonics.

Findings

Achieved robust single-mode lasing in a topologically protected state.

Demonstrated resilience of the laser mode against perturbations.

Integrated the microlaser on a silicon-on-insulator platform.

Abstract

Topological photonics provides a robust framework for strategically controlling light confinement and propagation dynamics. By exploiting the marriage between this notion and symmetry-constrained mode competition in an active setting, we experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, a hybrid silicon microlaser structure supporting a topologically protected zero-mode lasing. This mode is distributed over an integrated array of optical microrings, each supporting multiple modes that compete for gain. However, the mode competition is diminished in favor of a pre-defined topological state, which reflects the charge conjugation symmetry induced by the gain profile. Robust single-mode operation in the desired state prevails even with intentionally introduced perturbations. The demonstrated microlaser is hybrid-implemented on a silicon-on-insulator substrate, thereby readily suitable for integrated silicon photonics with potential applications in optical communication and computing.