Non-Magnetic On-Chip Resonant Acousto-Optic Isolator at 780 nm

Abstract

The goal of this project was to demonstrate a lithographically defined proof-of-concept optical isolator on-chip, without the use of magneticfields or magneto-optical materials. Our technical approach was to employ momentum-conservation in photon-phonon interactions to breakthe propagation symmetry of light using a unidirectional acoustic pump. This acoustic wave was transduced using an RF-driven SAWactuator on a piezoelectric substrate. We fabricated the device using only CMOS-compatible dielectric materials with the assistance of e-beamlithopgraphy. The final device operated as a frequency-shifting isolator near 1550 nm (telecom wavelength) and exhibited 15 dB ofnon-reciprocal contrast with 7.7 dB insertion loss. We also demonstrated on-chip components that would permit implementation of thisisolator at 780 nm for cold-atom microsystems applications, laying out paths for future development and improvements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 04, 2017
Accession Number
AD1047981

Entities

People

  • Gaurav Bahl

Organizations

  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Waves
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Dielectrics
  • Electron Beam Lithography
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Insertion Loss
  • Light Scattering
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Modulation
  • Modulators
  • Momentum
  • Optical Isolators
  • Optical Nonreciprocal Devices
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.