High-Q Lithium Niobate Microcavities and Their Applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in thin-film lithium niobate microcavities, highlighting their high quality factors, design principles, fabrication methods, and diverse applications in nonlinear optics and quantum photonics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the development, design, fabrication, and applications of ultrahigh-Q lithium niobate microcavities, emphasizing recent technological progress.

Findings

Achieved ultrahigh quality factors in LN microcavities

Demonstrated diverse applications in nonlinear optics and quantum photonics

Outlined fabrication approaches and design principles

Abstract

Lithium niobate (LN) is an excellent nonlinear optical and electro-optic material that has found many applications in classical nonlinear optics, optical fiber communications and quantum photonics. Here we review the recent development of thin-film LN technology that has allowed the miniaturization of LN photonic devices and microcavities with ultrahigh quality factors. We discuss the design principle of LN devices that makes use of the largest nonlinear coefficients, various device fabrication approaches and resulting device performances, and the current and potential applications of LN microcavities.