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

Abstract

Title Non-Magnetic On-Chip Resonant Acousto-Optic Isolator at 780 nm PI Dr. Gaurav Bahl, Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering 1206 W. Green St.; Urbana, Illinois 61801 Email: bahl@illinois.edu The goal of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a new magnet-free chip-scale optical isolator operating at 780 nm wavelength. This will be achieved by means of nonreciprocal Brillouin Scattering Induced Transparency (BSIT), a mechanism that exhibits high-efficiency direction-selective coupling between light and sound waves. Optical transmission through a waveguide coupled to a BSIT-supporting whispering gallery resonator (WGR) will be nearly lossless in the forward direction but strongly absorbing in the backward direction. The research team will fabricate BSIT-WGR systems operating at 780 nm using a new opto-mechanical resonator design. Through this isolator, the aim is to ensure that light propagating one way experiences <1 dB loss, while light propagating the opposite direction experiences >30 dB loss. The RF electronic input to this system should not exceed 10 dBm and it is desired to have optical power handling of 25 mW. The proposed isolator is a key enabling solution for cold-atom microsystems, chip-scale atomic clocks, and magneto-optical traps. Thus, it addresses significant DoD interests in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 19, 2016
Source ID
FA94531610025

Entities

People

  • Gaurav Bahl

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • United States Air Force
  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Microwave Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics