Chip-scale Spontaneous Quasi-Phase-Matched Micro-Racetrack Resonator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a CMOS-compatible, chip-scale spontaneous quasi-phase-matched frequency conversion in a micro-racetrack resonator, enabling efficient nonlinear processes without poling, crucial for integrated quantum photonics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel spontaneous quasi-phase-matching technique exploiting ferroelectric crystal anisotropy in a micro-racetrack resonator, avoiding electric poling and compatible with CMOS fabrication.

Findings

Achieved 0.85%/W normalized intracavity conversion efficiency.

Observed second harmonic generation at 111st-order QPM.

Potential to reach 186,000%/W with first-order QPM.

Abstract

Due to their capacity for non-classical light generation, high-efficiency second-order nonlinear parametric processes play an important role in quantum photonic technology, and chip-scale realization of these processes is recognized as the key to building efficient light sources for integrated quantum photonic circuits. To achieve ultra-high nonlinear conversion efficiency, traditional method uses quasi-phase matching (QPM) technology. However, QPM requires electric field poling, which is incompatible with the CMOS fabrication process, and this hinders the wafer-scale production of integrated photonic circuits. In this paper, we demonstrate efficient spontaneous quasi-phase matched (SQPM) frequency conversion in a micro-racetrack resonator. Our approach does not involve poling, but exploits the anisotropy of the ferroelectric crystals to allow the phase-matching condition to be fulfilled spontaneously as the TE-polarized light circulates in a specifically designed racetrack resonator. SQPM second harmonic generation is observed with a normalized intracavity conversion efficiency of 0.85%/W, corresponding to the 111st-order QPM. This could theoretically reach 186,000%/W by first-order QPM. In this case such high intracavity conversion efficiency can be implemented in practice with an optimized outward coupling. Our configurable SQPM approach will benefit the application of nonlinear frequency conversion in chip-scale integrated photonics with CMOS-compatible fabrication processes, and is applicable to other on-chip nonlinear processes such as quantum frequency conversion or frequency-comb generation.