On-chip non-Hermitian optical parametric amplifiers with a large bandwidth
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-25-2021
Department
Department of Physics
Abstract
Recently, our groups have introduced the notion of optical parametric amplification based on non-Hermitian phase matching wherein the incorporation of loss can lead to gain in this nonlinear optical process. Previous simulation results using second-order nonlinear optical coupled-mode theory have demonstrated the potential of this technique as an alternative to the stringent phase-matching condition, which is often difficult to achieve in semiconductor platforms. Here we fortify this notion for the case of third-order nonlinearity by considering parametric amplification in silicon nanowires and illustrate the feasibility of these devices by employing rigorous finite-difference time-domain analysis using realistic materials and geometric parameters. Particularly, we demonstrate that by systematic control of the optical loss of the idler in a four-wave mixing process, we can achieve efficient unidirectional energy conversion from the pump to the signal component even when the typical phase-matching condition is violated. Importantly, our simulations show that a signal gain of ∼9 dB for a waveguide length of a few millimeters is possible over a large bandwidth of several hundreds of nanometers (∼600 nm). This bandwidth is nearly 2 orders of magnitude larger than what can be achieved in the conventional silicon-photonics-based four-wave mixing process.
Publication Title
Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, A.,
Meng, X.,
Zhong, Q.,
El-Ganainy, R.,
Osgood, R.,
&
Dadap, J.
(2021).
On-chip non-Hermitian optical parametric amplifiers with a large bandwidth.
Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics,
38(7), 2160-2167.
http://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.426956
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/15110