Slow light engineering in a photonic crystal slab waveguide through optofluidic infiltration and geometric modulation

In this paper, a new type of flat-band slow light structure with high group index (n _g) and large normalized delay-bandwidth product (NDBP) in a silicon on insulator (SOI) based photonic crystal (PC) slab waveguide with a triangular lattice of circular holes is demonstrated. The dispersion engineering is performed by infiltrating optical fluids with different refractive indices n _f in the first row and shifting the second row of air holes adjacent to the PC waveguide (PCW) in the longitudinal direction. In the optimized case, a high NDBP of 0.32 with a group index of 54.55 and a bandwidth of 9.13 nm could be obtained. Furthermore, an ultra-low group velocity dispersion (GVD) in the range of 10^–20 s²/m is achieved in all of the structures. These results are obtained by numerical simulations based on three-dimensional (3D) plane wave expansion (PWE) method.     

Dispersion compensation based on the combination of coupled ring resonator and photonic crystal structures

An optical delay line of coupled resonator optical waveguide(CROW) compensated by photonic crystal waveguide(PhCW) is proposed. In the structure,etching the periodic holes around the waveguide of the ring resonator waveguide does not increase the size of the CROW. Theoretical studies and numerical models indicate that through careful design,CROW and PhCW exhibit different group velocity dispersion(GVD) properties at a certain frequency range. Optical signal can not only be compensated in terms of GVD,but can also be delayed with longer time period. Due to the propagation mode mismatch of the two structures,optical loss becomes inevitable.     

Large-core single-mode channel waveguide based on geometrically shaped leaky cladding

We propose a leaky channel waveguide structure for large-mode-area single-mode operation. The proposed structure is characterized by a uniform rectangular core and a specially designed cladding, through which all the confined modes are leaky. Single-mode operation is ensured by choosing the waveguide parameters properly so that the differential leakage loss between the first two modes is sufficiently high. A general power-law cladding geometry profile is considered, which is solved by the effective-index method in conjunction with the transfer-matrix-method to obtain the effective indices and leakage losses of the modes. We show that, with a suitable choice of cladding parameters, the waveguide can demonstrate extended single-mode operation in the wavelength range 750–1600 nm with a core area as large as 100 μm². Such a large confinement area for mode propagation can effectively suppress nonlinear optical effects. The waveguide is expected to find applications in the design of high-power lasers and amplifiers. PACS 42.82.-m; 42.82.Et; 42.79.Gn; 42.55.-f; 42.82.Bq     

Analysis of dispersions of coupled asymmetric subwavelength-diameter wires

We propose a novel waveguide based on a structure of coupled asymmetric subwavelength-diameter wires to realize a high negative dispersion. The waveguide consists of an optical nanofiber and a GaAs nanowire. The properties of the supermodes are calculated using finite elements method. The results show that the symmetric supermode in the coupled structure can exhibit a giant negative dispersion up to −4.5 × 10⁶ ps/nm/km.     

Dual-core leaky optical waveguide as an integrated-optic polarizer

We present a design of a dual-core leaky waveguide that can be used as an integrated-optic polarizer. The proposed polarizer works on the principle of mode filtering. The structure is characterized by two cores, namely core-1 and core-2 and a high index layer in the upper-most region, such a structure supports leaky modes. The leakage losses of the modes have been calculated by using the transfer matrix method (TMM). Single polarization operation is ensured by high differential leakage loss between fundamental TE and TM modes. We show TE-pass operation with 0.5 dB/mm loss in TE₀ mode and 13 dB/mm loss in TM₀ mode, and TM-pass operation with 0.36 dB/mm loss in TM₀ mode and 7.45 dB/mm loss in TE₀ mode. Besides single-polarization operation, single-mode operation of the structure is ensured by high leakage loss of all the other higher-order modes.     

Optical wave breaking of high-intensity femtosecond pulses in silicon optical waveguides

We have investigated numerically the propagation of high-intensity femtosecond optical pulses with pulsewidth of 100 fs (half width at 1/e maximum) on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) optical waveguide when the central wavelength of the pulse locates in the normal dispersion region. Results show that the combined effects of group-velocity dispersion (GVD), third-order dispersion (TOD), self-phase modulation (SPM), and free-carrier dispersion (FCD) can lead to the phenomenon of optical wave breaking that manifests as an asymmetric profile and oscillation near the trailing edge of the pulse. Moreover, the optical wave breaking will be experienced from generation to disappearance during propagation.     

Dispersion modified slot optical waveguides

Advent of slot waveguide structures had opened a new era where light can be confined in low index slot guarded by high index slabs. Already in use SOI slot waveguides (contrast ratio is 2.42) have two distinct properties over the conventional waveguides, i.e. high E-field amplitude, optical power, optical intensity in low index materials, and strong E-field confinement localized to nanometer-size low index regions. We hereby propose a low refractive index contrast ratio slot waveguide structure (ratio is 1.18) comprising of commercially available glass material. Novelty lies in showing high E-field amplitude, optical power, optical intensity, and strong E-field confinement in low index slot regions despite of lowest ever reported contrast ratio. A systematic numerical study on the higher order dispersion characteristics of the widely studied SOI-based slot structure and of our proposed low refractive index contrast slot structure is carried out. It has been demonstrated that low refractive index contrast ratio slot optical waveguide GVD properties are quite different than SOI slot optical waveguide. The less normal dispersion existing in this kind of waveguide could have an impact on their applications in various nonlinear or linear applications.     

Enabling arbitrary wavelength frequency combs on chip

A necessary condition for generation of bright soliton Kerr frequency combs in microresonators is to achieve anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD) for the resonator modes. This condition is hard to implement in the visible as well as ultraviolet since the majority of optical materials are characterized with large normal GVD in these wavelength regions. We overcome this challenge by borrowing ideas from strongly dispersive coupled systems in solid state physics and optics. We show that photonic compound ring resonators can possess large anomalous GVD at any desirable wavelength, even if each individual resonator is characterized with normal GVD. Based on this concept, we design a mode‐locked frequency comb with thin‐film silicon nitride compound ring resonators in the vicinity of the rubidium D₁ line (794.6 nm) and propose to use this optical comb as a flywheel for chip‐scale optical clocks.

     

太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳的色散

群速度色散会限制太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳的稳定以及频谱宽度.对于太赫兹量子级联激光器频率梳,其色散主要由器件增益、波导损耗、材料损耗引起.研究基于4.2 THz量子级联激光器双面金属波导结构,通过建立德鲁德模型,利用有限元法计算了激光器的波导损耗;器件未钳制的增益由费米黄金定则计算得到,结合增益钳制效应,计算了器件子带电子跃迁吸收以及镜面损耗,得到了器件钳制后的增益;利用Kramers-Kronig关系得到了器件的增益、波导损耗、材料损耗引起的色散,结果表明器件的激射区域存在非常严重的色散(–8×10~5—8×10~5 fs~2/mm).同时,计算了一种基于Gires-Tournois干涉仪结构的色散,结果表明,该结构的色散具有周期性,可以用于太赫兹量子级联激光器的色散补偿.     

Room-temperature continuous wave laser oscillations in Nd:YAG ceramic waveguides produced by carbon ion implantation

We report on the generation of continuous wave lasers at a wavelength of ∼1064 nm in a Nd:YAG ceramic waveguide at room temperature. The waveguide was fabricated by using 6 MeV carbon ion implantation at a fluence of 3×10¹⁴ ions/cm². Laser operation has been realized with a slope efficiency as high as ∼11%. The pump threshold of an 808-nm laser beam for the waveguide laser oscillation is 19.5 mW.     

Plasma-filled rippled wall rectangular backward wave oscillator driven by sheet electron beam

Performance of the backward wave oscillator (BWO) is greatly enhanced with the introduction of plasma. Linear theory of the dispersion relation and the growth rate have been derived and analysed numerically for plasma-filled rippled wall rectangular waveguide driven by sheet electron beam. To see the effect of plasma on the TM₀₁ cold wave structure mode and on the generated frequency, the parameters used are: relativistic factor γ = 1.5 (i.e. v/c = 0.741), average waveguide height y ₀ = 1.445 cm, axial corrugation period z ₀ = 1.67 cm, and corrugation amplitude ε = 0.225 cm. The plasma density is varied from zero to 2 ×10¹² cm^− 3. The presence of plasma tends to raise the TM₀₁ mode cut-off frequency (14 GHz at 2 ×10¹² cm^− 3 plasma density) relative to the vacuum cut-off frequency (5 GHz) which also causes a decrease in the group velocity everywhere, resulting in a flattening of the dispersion relation. With the introduction of plasma, an enhancement in absolute instability was observed.     

A new design of low-loss and ultra-flat zero dispersion photonic crystal fiber using hollow ring defect

New hollow ring defect structure is introduced in photonic crystal fiber design for ultra- flat zero dispersion with very low waveguide losses. The hollow ring defect consisted of a central hole surrounded by a doped silica ring provides highly flexible defect engineering capabilities in photonic crystal fibers to achieve precise control of dispersion value and dispersion slope while independently maintaining low waveguide losses, which was not attainable in previous designs. A nearly flat zero dispersion of D=0±0.51 ps/nm km was obtained in the wavelength range of 1.44–1.61 μm with the maximum slope of ?2.7×10^?2 ps/nm² km. The confinement loss was less than 5.75×10^?8 dB/m along with the bending loss of 2.8×10^?6 dB/m for the radius of 10 mm, and splice loss of less than 1.57 dB to conventional single mode fiber at 1.55 μm.     

Features of the dispersion characteristics of nonuniform plasma waveguides in a longitudinal magnetic field

We study the features of the dispersion curves and field structures of the fundamental axisymmetric mode of nonuniform layered plasma waveguides in a longitudinal magnetic field. It is shown that the presence of sharp boundaries between layers leads to the appearance of additional branches of the dispersion curves in the frequency range ω _Be < ω < ω_UH(0), where ω_Be is the electron gyrofrequency and ω_UH(0) is the upper-hybrid resonance frequency for the near-axis region of a nonuniform waveguide. The fields of eigenmodes corresponding to these branches comprise resonance structures near the sharp plasma-density variation at which the upper-hybrid resonance conditions are satisfied and plasma waves are excited. The frequency interval of such a branch is limited by the resonant frequencies of the neighboring uniform layers. It turns out that in the case of a strong magnetic field ({ie392-01}, where ω_p is the plasma frequency having the value {ie392-02} in the near-axis region of a nonuniform waveguide), the fundamental-mode field is localized in the near-axis region of a nonuniform waveguide, whereas in the opposite case {ie392-03}, the maximum wave fields are localized in either the upper-hybrid resonance region or the outer (near-boundary) layer of the waveguide if there is no resonance region. It is found that the whistler (helicon) contribution to the field structure of the fundamental axisymmetric mode is very small for narrow nonuniform waveguides (b < λ₀, where b is the waveguide radius and λ₀ is the wavelength in free space) if the plasma density on the axis is high compared with the cutoff density {ie392-04}. We present one of the possible explanations for the effect of narrowing of the plasma channel of a high-frequency whistler-range discharge with distance from a source in the increasing magnetic field. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 434–446, May 2008.     

Dip-coated HNR120 photoresists thin-film optical waveguides

We report on our systematic and detailed study of fabrication and characterization of HNR120 photoresists thin-film optical waveguides. Various waveguide properties, such as refractive index, optical losses as a function of temperature, waveguide thickness, dispersion and birefringence have been studied. The optical loss are found to be <1.4 dB cm⁻¹.     

Performance limitations of an optical heterodyne CPFSK transmission system due to self-phase modulation

A detailed theoretical analysis is presented to evaluate the combined influence of self-phase modulation (SPM) and group velocity dispersion (GVD) of optical fiber on the bit error rate (BER) performance of a heterodyne optical CPFSK system. The power penalty suffered by the system due to the combined influence of GVD and SPM is evaluated from the BER performance results. It is found that the penalty due to SPM at a BER of 10⁻⁹ is significant when the input power exceeds 7 dBm. Further, the CPFSK system with modulation index of 0.5 is less sensitive to the effects of GVD and SPM compared to the system with a modulation index of 1. The theoretical results are in conformity with the experimental results reported earlier.     

Design of highly nonlinear dispersion-flattened square photonic crystal fiber for medical applications

In this paper, we report the design of a highly nonlinear dispersion flattened high-index-core square photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for applications in optical coherence tomography (OCT). The finite-difference method with an anisotropic perfectly matched boundary layer is used as a numerical simulation tool. A set of optimized design parameters numerically resulted in a nonlinear coefficient of 79.9W⁻¹ km⁻¹ and a dispersion of −0:186 ps/(nm·km) at a wavelength of approximately 1.06 μm. Owing to its high nonlinear coefficient and flattened dispersion, the PCF is expected to be suitable for broadband supercontinuum generation, which is considered very important in OCT medical applications.     

Comparison of gold and silver dispersion laws suitable for FDTD simulations

We report optical planar waveguide formation and modal characterization in β-BaB₂O₄ crystals by Cu²⁺-ion implantation at an energy of 3.0 MeV and doses of ∼ 10¹⁴ ions/cm². The prism-coupling method was used to investigate the dark-mode property at wavelengths of 633 nm and 1539 nm. The refractive-index profile of the waveguide was reconstructed by an effective refractive index method. The modal analysis indicates that the fields of TM modes can be well restricted in the guiding region, which means the formation of a non-leaky waveguide in the crystal. The results show that the β-BaB₂O₄ waveguides may be used in the application of high efficiency frequency conversion. PACS 61.80.Jh; 42.70.Mp; 42.65.Wi     

Photonic crystal slow light waveguides with large delay–bandwidth product

In this paper, we propose the use of two two-dimensional photonic crystal line defect waveguides for slow light with large delay–bandwidth product (DBP). One includes air rings localized at each side of the line defect and the other modifies the radius and distance of holes at each side of the waveguide. We show that we can achieve a very flat band corresponding to nearly constant group index over a broad frequency range by adjusting the parameters of the structure. We show further that the group velocity dispersion (GVD) can reach a relatively small amount and the DBP can be more than 0.6 for the first waveguide and 0.34 for the second waveguide. Numerical simulation by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method demonstrates the propagation of the broadband pulse.     

Fabrication and characterization of polyethylene terephatate optical waveguides

In this paper, the fabrication and characterization of polyethylene terephatate (PET) thin film integrated optical waveguide is presented. Dip-coating technique has been used to fabricate the optical waveguide using PET. Various waveguide properties, such as mode effective refractive index, optical loss, dispersion and waveguide thickness as a function of temperature of waveguides have been reported. The optical loss are found to be <1 dB cm^–1.