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At least 19 records

Wave scattering and guidance by dielectric waveguides with periodic surfaces

The extended-boundary-condition method is used to solve the wave scattering and guidance by a stratified medium with a periodic surface. First, the transition matrix for two sets of Flocquet waves incident from above and below a periodic surface separating the two media is derived. The results are applied to the diffraction of an incident plane wave by a multilayered medium having a periodic surface. The theoretical results can easily be applied to the guidance problem for which the complex guiding constant of the periodic structure is obtained. Numerical results for both the scattering and the guidance problems are obtained. The theory is compared with experiment for metallic gratings with surface-plasmon excitations. The calculated guiding constants of a thin film with a periodic sinusoidal surface are also compared with other numerical methods.

Chuang, S. L.↗

Nonlinear wavepacket dynamics in proximity to a stationary inflection point

A stationary inflection point (SIP) in the Bloch dispersion relation of a periodic waveguide is an exceptional point degeneracy where three Bloch eigenmodes coalesce, forming the so-called frozen mode with a divergent amplitude and vanishing group velocity of its propagating component. For this work, we have developed a theoretical framework to study the time evolution of wavepackets centered at an SIP. Analysis of the evolution of the statistical moment distribution of linear pulses shows a strong deviation from the conventional ballistic wavepacket dynamics in dispersive media. The presence of nonlinear interactions dramatically changes the situation, resulting in a mostly ballistic propagation of nonlinear wavepackets with the speed and even the direction of propagation essentially dependent on the wavepacket amplitude. Such a behavior is unique to nonlinear wavepackets centered at an SIP and can be used for the realization of a novel family of beam power routers for classical waves.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Mode conversion in periodically disturbed thin-film waveguides

Mode conversion in a periodically perturbed thin-film optical waveguide is studied in detail. Three different types of perturbations are considered: periodic index of refraction of the film, periodic index of refraction of the substrate, and periodic boundary. The applications in filters, mode converters, and distributed feedback lasers are discussed.

Elachi, C.↗

Measurement and analysis of periodic coupling in silicon-clad planar waveguides

Computer modeling studies indicate that planar dielectric waveguides clad with silicon exhibit a damped periodic oscillation in their attenuation and phase characteristics. The effect is due to a periodic coupling between the lossy, guided modes in the silicon film and the TE0 mode of the dielectric waveguide. Experimental confirmation of the periodic coupling for a wavelength of 632.8 nm is presented. Propagation characteristics for a wavelength of 1150 nm were investigated for application in integrated optical modulators. Frequency filtering properties of silicon-clad waveguides are also examined and it is shown that the silicon thickness controls the filter response curve.

Mcwright, G. M.↗

High-Fidelity Down-Conversion Source for Secure Communications Using On-Demand Single Photons

AdvR, Inc., has built an efficient, fully integrated, waveguide-based source of spectrally uncorrelated photon pairs that will accelerate research and development (R&D) in the emerging field of quantum information science. Key to the innovation is the use of submicron periodically poled waveguides to produce counter propagating photon pairs, which is enabled by AdvR's patented segmented microelectrode poling technique. This novel device will provide a high brightness source of down-conversion pairs with enhanced spectral properties and low attenuation, and it will operate in the visible to the mid-infrared spectral region. A waveguide-based source of spectrally and spatially pure heralded photons will contribute to a wide range of NASA's advanced technology development efforts, including on-demand single photon sources for high-rate spaced-based secure communications.

Roberts, Tony↗

Low-Loss Waveguides for Terahertz Frequencies

Hollow-core, periodic bandgap (HCPBG) flexible waveguides have been proposed as a means of low-loss transmission of electromagnetic signals in the frequency range from about 300 GHz to 30 THz. This frequency range has been called the "terahertz gap" because it has been little utilized: Heretofore, there has been no way of low-loss guiding of terahertz beams other than by use of fixed-path optical beam guides with lenses and mirrors or multimode waveguides that cannot maintain mode purity around bends or modest discontinuities.

Siegel, Peter↗

Photonic Waveguide Choke Joint with Absorptive Loading

A photonic waveguide choke includes a first waveguide flange member having periodic metal tiling pillars, a dissipative dielectric material positioned within an area between the periodic metal tiling pillars and a second waveguide flange member disposed to be coupled with the first waveguide flange member and in spaced-apart relationship separated by a gap. The first waveguide flange member has a substantially smooth surface, and the second waveguide flange member has an array of two-dimensional pillar structures formed therein.

Wollack, Edward J.↗

Visible (400- to 700-nm) chirped-grating-coupled waveguide spectrometer

An integrable on-chip spectrometer, based on a transversely-chirped-grating waveguide-coupler for the 400- to 700-nm visible spectral range is demonstrated. For a fixed angle of incidence, the coupling wavelength is dependent on the local grating period and the waveguide structure. The transversely-chirped-input grating is fabricated on a SiO 2 -Si 3 N 4 -SiO 2 waveguide atop a Si substrate by interferometric lithography in two sections on a single silicon substrate. A uniform period grating, separated from the input coupler by a propagation region, is provided for out-coupling to a 2048 element CMOS detector array. The incident light with wavelength spanning 400- to 700-nm is coupled into waveguide at 33.5° through the chirped grating coupler. A resolution of ∼ 1.2 nm is demonstrated without any signal processing reconstruction.

Wang, Xuemei↗

Symmetric second-harmonic generation in sub-wavelength periodically poled thin film lithium niobate

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) extensively employs periodically poled nonlinear crystals through forward quasi-phase-matching to achieve efficient frequency conversion. As poling periods approach sub-micrometers, backward quasi-phase-matching has also been demonstrated, albeit by utilizing pulsed laser drives. The realization of symmetric second-harmonic generation, characterized by counterpropagating pumps, however, has remained elusive despite theoretical predictions. The main challenge lies in achieving strong nonlinear coupling with the poling period below half the wavelength of the second-harmonic light. The recent emergence of high-quality ferroelectric lithium niobate thin films provides an opportunity for achieving precise domain control at submicron dimensions. In this paper, we demonstrate reliable control of ferroelectric domains in a thin film lithium niobate waveguide with a poling period down to 370 nm, thereby realizing highly efficient continuous-wave pumped symmetric SHG. This demonstration not only validates the feasibility of achieving subwavelength periodic poling on waveguides but could also enable submicron ferrolectric domain structures to be leveraged in integrated photonics and nonlinear optics research.

Optics↗

Milliwatt-level UV generation using sidewall poled lithium niobate

Integrated coherent sources of ultra-violet (UV) light are essential for a wide range of applications, from ion-based quantum computing and optical clocks to gas sensing and microscopy. Recently, approaches that use frequency upconversion have received considerable attention. Among these, the integrated thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic platform shows particular promise. However, to date, the high propagation losses and lack of reliable techniques for consistent poling of cm-long waveguides with small poling periods have impeded progress. Here, we present a sidewall poled lithium niobate (SPLN) waveguide approach that overcomes these obstacles and results in a two-orders-of-magnitude increase in generated UV power. We demonstrate SPLN waveguides featuring record-low propagation losses of 2.3 dB/cm, complete domain inversion across the waveguide cross-section, and an optimum 50% duty cycle, resulting in a record-high normalized conversion efficiency of 5050%W$^{−1}$cm$^{−2}$, and 4.2 mW of generated on-chip power at 390 nm wavelength. This advancement makes the TFLN platform a viable option for high-quality on-chip UV generation, benefiting emerging applications.

Franken, C. A.A. [Harvard U.; Twente U., Enschede]↗

Tunable and efficient ultraviolet generation with periodically poled lithium niobate

On-chip ultraviolet (UV) sources are of great interest for building compact and scalable atomic clocks, quantum computers, and spectrometers. However, few material platforms are suitable for integrated UV light generation and manipulation. Of these materials, thin-film lithium niobate offers unique advantages such as sub-micron modal confinement, strong nonlinearity, and quasi-phase matching. Despite these characteristics, its utilization in the UV has remained elusive because of the substantial sensitivity of standard quasi-phase matching to fabrication imperfections, the photorefractive effect, and relatively large losses in this range. Here, we present efficient (197 ± 5%/W/cm 2 ) second harmonic generation of UV-A light in a periodically poled lithium niobate nanophotonic waveguide. We achieve on-chip UV powers of ~30 µW and linear wavelength tunability using temperature. These results are enabled with large cross section waveguides, which leads to first-order UV quasi-phase-matching with relatively long poling periods (>1.5 µm). By varying the poling period, we have achieved the shortest reported wavelength (355 nm) generated through frequency doubling in thin-film lithium niobate. Furthermore, our results open up new avenues for UV on-chip sources and chip-scale photonics through compact frequency-doubling of common near-IR laser diodes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Frequency selective coupler for integrated optics systems.

A frequency selective coupler which consists of two thin film waveguides imbedded in a periodic medium is studied using the Brillouin diagram. Detailed results for the relative bandwidth and the coupling factor are plotted as a function of normalized frequency for a representative case.

Elachi, C.↗

Waveguide Harmonic Generator for the SIM

A second-harmonic generator (SHG) serves as the source of the visible laser beam in an onboard calibration scheme for NASA's planned Space Interferometry Mission (SIM), which requires an infrared laser beam and a visible laser beam coherent with the infrared laser beam. The SHG includes quasi-phase-matched waveguides made of MgO-doped, periodically poled lithium niobate, pigtailed with polarization- maintaining optical fibers. Frequency doubling by use of such waveguides affords the required combination of coherence and sufficient conversion efficiency for the intended application. The spatial period of the poling is designed to obtain quasi-phase- matching at a nominal middle excitation wavelength of 1,319.28 nm. The SHG is designed to operate at a warm bias (ambient temperature between 20 and 25 C) that would be maintained in its cooler environment by use of electric heaters; the heater power would be adjusted to regulate the temperature precisely and thereby maintain the required precision of the spatial period. At the state of development at the time of this reporting, the SHG had been packaged and subjected to most of its planned space-qualification tests.

Chang, Daniel↗

Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution with a High Generation Rate Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Waveguide Photon-Pair Source

A high generation rate photon-pair source using a dual element periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PP KTP) waveguide is described. The fully integrated photon-pair source consists of a 1064-nanometer pump diode laser, fiber-coupled to a dual element waveguide within which a pair of 1064-nanometer photons are up-converted to a single 532-nanometer photon in the first stage. In the second stage, the 532-nanometer photon is down-converted to an entangled photon-pair at 800 nanometer and 1600 nanometer which are fiber-coupled at the waveguide output. The photon-pair source features a high pair generation rate, a compact power-efficient package, and continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation. This is a significant step towards the long term goal of developing sources for high-rate Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to enable Earth-space secure communications. Characterization and test results are presented. Details and preliminary results of a laboratory free-space QKD experiment with the B92 protocol are also presented.

photons↗

Optical Waveguide Output Couplers Fabricated in Polymers

Waveguide output couplers fabricated in Norland Optical Adhesive (NOA) #81 and AMOCO Ultradel 9020D polyimide are investigated. The output couplers are implemented using periodic relief gratings on a planar waveguide. Design theory of the couplers is based on the perturbation approach. Coupling of light from waveguide propagation modes to output radiation modes is described by coupled mode theory and the transmission line approximation of the perturbed area (grating structure). Using these concepts, gratings can be accurately designed to output a minimum number of modes at desired output angles. Waveguide couplers were designed using these concepts. These couplers were fabricated and analyzed for structural accuracy, output beam accuracy, and output efficiency. The results for the two different materials are compared.

Watson, Michael D.↗