Quadrature-Dependent Lattice Dynamics of Dissipative Microcombs

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quadrature-dependent lattice dynamics of dissipative microcombs generated in integrated Kerr micro-resonators, revealing oscillatory behaviors and control mechanisms for multimode quantum states with potential applications in advanced photonic systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to controlling quadrature-dependent dynamics in microcombs, linking non-Hermitian symmetries with Kerr comb behavior for the first time.

Findings

Demonstrated oscillatory multimode vacuum states in microcombs

Controlled vacuum fluctuations using integrated micro-heaters

Connected non-Hermitian lattice symmetries with Kerr comb dynamics

Abstract

The study of coupled networks with parametric amplification of the vacuum fluctuations has garnered increasing interest due to its intricate physics and potential applications. In these systems, parametric interactions lead to beam-splitter coupling and two-mode squeezing, creating quadrature-dependent dynamics. These systems can be modeled as bosonic networks, arrays or lattices, exhibiting exotic effects such as unidirectional amplification and non-Hermitian chiral transport which influence multimode squeezing. However, exploring and controlling these network dynamics experimentally in all-optical systems remains challenging. Recent advancements in integrated nonlinear micro-resonators, known as Kerr microcombs, enable the generation and control of broadband high-repetition pulses on microchips. Kerr microcombs exhibit intriguing nonlinear dynamics, where coherent photons occupy discrete spectral lines, leading to multimode squeezed vacuum states. In this work, we explore the lattice dynamics of vacuum fluctuations driven by dissipative Kerr microcombs. We design a photonic chip where a spontaneously emergent pair of pulses creates extended multimode states of parametrically amplified vacuum fluctuations. These states exhibit oscillatory dynamics, with implications on squeezing and secondary comb formation. By employing integrated micro-heaters, we tune the vacuum fluctuations to eliminate the oscillations, establishing a fundamental connection between non-Hermitian lattice symmetries and Kerr combs, paving the way for exotic quadrature-dependent optical networks with broad implications for quantum and classical photonic technologies.