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Slow Light Enhanced Nonlinear Optics in Silicon Photonic Crystal Waveguides | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Slow Light Enhanced Nonlinear Optics in Silicon Photonic Crystal Waveguides


Abstract:

We present a summary of our recent experiments showing how various nonlinear phenomena are enhanced due to slow light in silicon photonic crystal waveguides. These nonlin...Show More

Abstract:

We present a summary of our recent experiments showing how various nonlinear phenomena are enhanced due to slow light in silicon photonic crystal waveguides. These nonlinear processes include self-phase modulation (SPM), two-photon absorption (TPA), free-carrier related effects, and third-harmonic generation, the last effect being associated with the emission of green visible light, an unexpected phenomenon in silicon. These demonstrations exploit photonic crystal waveguides engineered to support slow modes with a range of group velocities as low as c/50 and, more crucially, with significantly reduced dispersion. We discuss the potential of slow light in photonic crystals for realizing compact nonlinear devices operating at low powers. In particular, we consider the application of SPM to all-optical regeneration, and experimentally investigate an original approach, where enhanced TPA and free-carrier absorption are used for partial regeneration of a high-bit rate data stream (10 Gb/s).
Published in: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics ( Volume: 16, Issue: 1, Jan.-feb. 2010)
Page(s): 344 - 356
Date of Publication: 06 November 2009

ISSN Information:


I. Introduction

Integrated nanophotonics, particularly on the silicon on insulator (SOI) platform, has recently enabled the successful realization of various nonlinear optical devices on chip [1]. At the core of these advances lies the tight confinement of light within submicrometer-sized silicon nanowires that substantially increases the optical energy density, allowing nonlinear optical effects to occur at greatly reduced input powers. Planar silicon photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides represent another integrated platform, where light is confined by total internal reflection within the vertical silicon/air step index waveguide while experiencing the periodic modulation of the refractive index in the plane of the structure. While this platform provides a similar degree of optical confinement to that of silicon nanowires, it offers the additional capability to reduce significantly the speed of light propagation–-creating the so-called slow light [2], [3]. In the context of integrated nonlinear optics, slow light holds the promise for further enhancing optical nonlinear effects [4], [5].

References

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