Microresonator and Laser Parameters Definition via Self-Injection Locking

TL;DR

This paper introduces an innovative technique for determining key parameters of microresonator modes and laser diodes using self-injection locking, applicable even in spectral ranges where traditional methods fail.

Contribution

The authors developed and experimentally verified a novel method for characterizing microresonator and laser parameters via self-injection locking, including in the mid-IR range.

Findings

Microresonator quality factor determined as 5×10^8

Method applicable in spectral ranges beyond conventional techniques

Successfully stabilized a 2.64 μm laser diode using the method

Abstract

Self-injection locking to a high-quality-factor microresonator is a key component of various up-to-date photonic applications, including compact narrow-linewidth lasers and microcomb sources. For optimal construction of such devices it is necessary to know the parameters of the locking mode, which is a challenging task. We developed and verified experimentally an original technique based on the fundamentals of the self-injection locking effect, which allows determining the key parameters of the mode of the microresonator (quality factor, vertical index) as well as laser diode parameters. We demonstrated that this method can be used in the spectral ranges where conventional methods are not applicable, for example, in the mid-IR. We stabilized a 2.64 $\mu$m laser diode by a high-Q whispering gallery mode microresonator made of crystalline silicon. Using the elaborated technique, the quality factor of the microresonator was determined to be $5\cdot10^8$.