Self-injection locking dynamics with Raman actions in AlN microresonators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates nonlinear self-injection locking in AlN microresonators, producing stimulated Raman lasers and microcombs with high power and narrow linewidth, advancing integrated photonics with nonlinear effects.

Contribution

It introduces the first demonstration of nonlinear SIL in AlN microcavities, enabling Raman lasing and microcomb generation on a new material platform.

Findings

Stimulated Raman laser emission exceeding 10 mW output power.

Fundamental linewidth below 70 Hz at 1750 nm.

Generation of Stokes platicon microcombs with co-emission.

Abstract

Self-injection locking (SIL) of semiconductor lasers to on-chip microcavities enables significant laser noise purification and diverse nonlinear optical actions. Realizing nonlinear SIL in new material platforms is essential for advancing photonic integrated circuits. Here, we demonstrate nonlinear SIL in AlN microcavities that generates stimulated Raman lasers (SRLs) and microcombs. We achieve SRL emission with an output power exceeding 10 mW and a fundamental linewidth below 70 Hz in the 1750 nm band. The Kerr effect further mediates stimulated emissions at the 2nd-Stokes and anti-Stokes frequencies. Multi-time-scale thermal relaxations during turnkey SIL enable GHz-level frequency sweeps of the SRL and pump. Raman actions also render a Stokes platicon microcomb state with co-emission in the pump and Stokes bands. Hybrid-integrated crystalline microresonators can be a versatile platform to investigate nonlinear photon-phonon interactions.