Visualization of nonlinear optics in a microresonator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to directly visualize and analyze nonlinear optical processes in microresonators using SWIR imaging, enabling better understanding and optimization of photonic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel visualization technique for nonlinear effects in microresonators, improving spatial localization and analysis of these phenomena.

Findings

Successful imaging of nonlinear optical processes in microresonators

Ability to distinguish different nonlinear effects via scattering pattern analysis

Potential to enhance design and debugging of photonic devices

Abstract

A precise understanding of nonlinear optical phenomena in whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonators is crucial for developing next-generation integrated photonic devices. Applications include on-chip sensors for biomedical use, optical memories for all-optical networks and frequency combs for optical clocks. However, our ability to spatially localize nonlinear optical processes within microresonators has been limited because optical feedback is often only collected through a bus waveguide. In this study, we present the direct visualization of nonlinear optical processes using scattering patterns captured by a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera. Through systematic analysis of these scattering patterns, we can distinguish between different nonlinear effects occurring within the microresonator. Direct imaging of nonlinear processes in microresonators can significantly impact many applications, including the optimization of soliton frequency combs, real-time debugging of photonic circuits, microresonator-based memories, and chip-based data switching in telecom circuits.