Electrically switchable photonic diode empowered by chiral resonance

TL;DR

This paper introduces an all-silicon, electrically tunable photonic diode with engineered chiral resonances, enabling nonreciprocal transmission and dynamic reconfigurability for integrated photonic applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates a CMOS-compatible, electrically reconfigurable photonic diode using chiral resonances in a microring, overcoming limitations of traditional nonreciprocal devices.

Findings

Achieves nonreciprocal transmission at -5 dBm threshold power.

Enables dynamic switching between forward, backward, and disabled states.

Controls self-pulsation dynamics with propagation-direction-dependent thresholds.

Abstract

The on-chip integration of nonreciprocal optical devices remains a critical challenge for modern optoelectronics, as conventional magneto-optic approaches suffer from material incompatibility and excessive optical losses. Nonlinear photonic diodes have emerged as a promising magnet-free alternative, yet their widespread adoption has been constrained by inherent limitations in reconfigurability. Here, we present an all-silicon, electrically tunable photonic diode leveraging engineered chiral resonances in an ultra-compact microring architecture. The pronounced asymmetric modal coupling enables nonreciprocal transmission with two distinct operation modes at threshold powers down to -5 dBm. The chirality further enables unprecedented control over self-pulsation dynamics, manifesting in propagation-direction-dependent oscillation thresholds and temporal signatures. Crucially, post-fabrication electrical reconfigurability allows dynamic switching between forward, backward, and disabled states. This work represents a significant advancement in integrated nonreciprocal photonics, offering a CMOS-compatible solution with transformative potential for optical interconnects, photonic neural networks, and signal processing systems.