Enhancement of Available Conversion Efficiency of Optical Parametric Amplifier in a Cascaded Photonic Crystal Structure

Using the cascaded structure of a linear and a second-order nonlinear photonic crystals, we realize a high-efficiency optical parametric amplifier in the case of exact phase matching. This proposal is verified using the slow-envelope nonlinear finite difference time domain numerical method. Compared with the case of the individual nonlinear photonic crystal structure, the oscillation threshold is decreased obviously; and the peak power amplification factor of the transmitted signal is enhanced more than 20 times.     

Photonic Crystal Waveguide Intersection Based on Self-Imaging of Multi-Mode Interference

A new mechanism of intersection formed by two line defect photonic crystal （PC） waveguides are numerically investigated using the finite-diFference time-domain method. The results show that the normalized crosstalk is smaller than 10^-4; the reflection is smaller than 10^-3, and the transmission is larger than 0.999. The authors analyse the physical origins and find that a modified self-imaging process in the intersected multi-mode region is the main reason of the excellent performance. This kind of multi-mode interference based intersection may find potential applications in PC optical circuits.     

Broadband Frequency Down-Conversion Using Coupled Cavity Structures in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals

The frequency down-conversion of one-dimensional photonic crystals with the coupled cavity structure is investigated by the nonlinear finite-difference time-domain method. The efficient frequency conversion is obtained by utilizing the advantages of the broad eigenfrequency band, the strong localization and the Bloch phase matching of the coupled cavity structure. More importantly, the signal frequency could be tuned continuously within the whole band of the coupled cavity structure （with a bandwidth to central frequency ratio of 5.4%）, and the gains are homogeneous in the band.     

Emissions of Photonic Crystal Waveguides with Discretely Modulated Surfaces

Transmission properties of photonic crystal （PC） waveguides with discretely modulated exit surfaces are investigated numerically using the finite-difference time-domain （FDTD） method. Unlike the case of periodically modulated surfaces, where the transmission beam tends to be a single and directional beam, when the exit surfaces are modulated only at several discrete points, the emission power tends to split into multiple and directional beams. We explain this phenomenon using a multiple point source interference model. Based on these results, we propose a 1-to-N beam splitter, and numerically realized high efficiency coupling between a PC sub-wavelength waveguide and three traditional dielectric waveguides with a total efficiency larger than 92%. This simple, easy fabrication, and controllable mechanism may find more potential applications in integrated optical circuits.     

Fano Resonance by Symmetry Breaking Stub in a Metal-Dielectric-Metal Waveguide

The coupling of a stub obliquely intersected with a metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguide is investigated by using the finite difference in time domain method. Results show that an odd mode, except for the usual even mode, is excited in the stub due to the symmetry breaking of the oblique intersection. Moreover, the results show that tile quality factor of the odd mode is very high in comparison with that of the usual even mode, which is then explained by the symmetry breaking of the oblique stub intersection. The superposition of the even and the odd mode generates a Fano shaped spectrum with a very narrow linewidth. The effect of metallic loss and compensation are also discussed. Both the stub and the waveguide are compact in size, and simple in structure, which are beneficial for the achievements of narrow band filtering, sensing, lasing, and nonlinearity enhancement.