Tunable lasers with optical-parametric oscillation in photonic-crystal resonators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a versatile, tunable laser system using optical-parametric oscillation in photonic-crystal resonators, enabling wavelength control across a broad range with high efficiency and low noise, advancing integrated photonics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to tunable lasers via photonic-crystal resonator-based optical-parametric oscillation, with predictive modeling and experimental validation.

Findings

Wavelength tuning range of 1234-2093 nm with 1550 nm pump

Conversion efficiency exceeding 10%

Negligible optical-frequency noise across output range

Abstract

By design access to laser wavelength, especially with integrated photonics, is critical to advance quantum sensors like optical clocks and quantum-information systems, and open opportunities in optical communication. Semiconductor-laser gain provides exemplary efficiency and integration but merely in developed wavelength bands. Alternatively, nonlinear optics requires control of phase matching, but the principle of nonlinear conversion of a pump laser to a designed wavelength is extensible. We report on laser-wavelength access by versatile customization of optical-parametric oscillation (OPO) with a photonic-crystal resonator (PhCR). By controlling the bandgap of a PhCR, we enable OPO generation across a wavelength range of 1234-2093 nm with a 1550 nm pump and 1016-1110 nm with a 1064 nm pump. Moreover, our tunable laser platform offers pump-to-sideband conversion efficiency of >10% and negligible additive optical-frequency noise across the output range. From laser design to simulation of nonlinear dynamics, we use a Lugiato-Lefever framework that predicts the system characteristics, including bi-directional OPO generation in the PhCR and conversion efficiency in agreement with our observations. Our experiments introduce tunable lasers by design with PhCR OPOs, providing critical functionalities in integrated photonics.