Design anomalous Kerr nonlinearity for photonic signal processing and sensing
Abstract
Nonlinear effects have been a long-standing common research focus across different disciplines, both for pure scientific interests and for the development of modern technologies such as electronic transistors, lasers, and MEMS sensors. In optics, nonlinearity is typically classified according to the dependence of refractive index on electric fields with different orders. The Kerr nonlinearity, where the refractive index changes with the square of the electric field, is one of the most important optical nonlinear processes. All materials intrinsically have Kerr nonlinearity. Numerous photonic technologies are developed based on Kerr nonlinearity, including signal transduction between different wavelengths, novel coherent light sources for precise timing, and ultra-fast switches for imaging and signal processing. The recent development of integrated photonics further boost the study of Kerr nonlinearity. The nanoscale confinement of optical fields with integrated photonics has enabled precise dispersion engineering and significant power enhancement. However, it is still challenging to directly control the Kerr nonlinear coefficient. This has become one significant bottleneck for the further development of photonic technologies. In this project, we propose to directly engineer the Kerr nonlinear coefficient. This is realized by the cascaded Pockels nonlinear process, an artificial Kerr nonlinearity. Besides the efficiency improvement, we will further demonstrate anomalous Kerr effects including the suppression of Kerr nonlinearity, the adjustment of the relative strength between different Kerr processes, and the negative Kerr nonlinearity. We will further apply anomalous Kerr effects to develop novel photonic functions for sensing and information processing, including Kerr nonlinearity approaching quantum strong coupling, critical point sensing, and soliton generation with normal dispersion. Given the foundational importance of Kerr nonlinearity, the proposed project can produce long-lasting impact on both US Air Force tasks including sensing and signal processing, as well as fundamental science such as chaotic dynamics, chiral photonics, and quantum optics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410119
Entities
People
- Linran Fan
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Austin