Nonreciprocal Photonics for Suppression of Disorder Induced Scattering
Abstract
Isolators and circulators are frequently used in photonic systems to introduce directionality and to block the back-propagation of light. However, these non-reciprocal devices are only a fix for backscattering and do not perform any preventative function. Such fixes do nothing to address the problem of scattering from defects, which results in signal decoherence, loss of power, localized resonances, and spurious scattering. In this project we sought to demonstrate waveguides and chip-scale photonic components in which such back-scattering never occurs even in the presence of disorder or defects. Our proposed approach to counteract such backscattering was to break time-reversal symmetry in the medium so that modes for opposite, i.e. time- reversed, propagation are simply not symmetric in energy-momentum space. With support from this grant we were able to demonstrate record setting on-chip optical isolators and new approaches to produce non-reciprocity. Most importantly, we were able to experimentally demonstrate the suppression of Rayleigh backscattering in resonators with broken T-symmetry, in both on-chip and off-chip scenarios, using a variety of pumping approaches.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 05, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1230691
Entities
People
- Gaurav Bahl
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign