Actively tunable double-Fano and Ramsey-Fano resonances in photonic molecules and improved sensing performance

Abstract

Optical Fano resonances are an increasingly important line-shape engineering tool with applications ranging from high-sensitivity sensing and ultrasmall lasers to low-power optical switching or modulating. Here we demonstrate a fully on-chip resonant nanostructure on a photonic crystal molecule platform exhibiting typical double- and Ramsey-Fano resonances, which can be actively controlled by the modification of the blockade transmittance in the waveguide. First, we investigate the transmission spectrum of a coupled double-cavity setting, showing a kind of double-Fano resonance line shape which consists of an asymmetric low-frequency Fano (LF) resonance and a high-frequency Fano (HF) resonance. At the same time, we elucidate the influences of various physical quantities on the generated LF and HF resonances. Second, and more interestingly, we reveal the occurrence of the Ramsey-Fano resonance profile by extending a double-cavity arrangement to a coupled-cavity-array arrangement. This Ramsey-Fano resonance can be attributed to the multiple quantum interference among a variety of light pathways. Finally, as an application, we discuss how to use an asymmetric double-Fano resonance line shape, which features the steep spectral slope, to improve the sensing performance. Our obtained results may stimulate future experimental efforts in controlling the double- and Ramsey-Fano resonance line shapes of this system more accurately.