Lithium niobate quadratic integrated nonlinear photonics: enabling ultra-wide bandwidth and ultrafast photonic engines

TL;DR

This paper reviews lithium niobate integrated quadratic nonlinear photonics, emphasizing its potential to enable ultra-wide bandwidth and ultrafast photonic sources for advanced scientific and technological applications.

Contribution

It introduces the unique properties of lithium niobate nonlinear photonics and discusses strategies for broadband, tunable light sources and ultrashort pulse generation.

Findings

Lithium niobate enables broadband, tunable light sources.

Strategies for ultrashort pulse generation are discussed.

Advantages and limitations of the platform are analyzed.

Abstract

Integrated photonic coherent light sources capable of generating emission with broad spectral coverage and ultrashort pulse durations are critical for both fundamental science and emerging technologies. In this Perspective, we start by discussing emerging quantum and classical photonic applications from the standpoint of operating wavelength and timescale, highlighting the technological gaps that persist in current integrated photonic light sources. Next, we introduce the unique properties of lithium niobate-based integrated quadratic nonlinear photonics, and discuss several promising strategies that exploit this platform to realize wavelength-tunable continuous wave light sources and broadband, ultra-short light pulse generation. We also assessed their advantages and limitations while discussing potential solutions. Finally, we outline future prospects and challenges that need to be addressed, aiming at inspiring continued research and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.