Directional quasi-phase matching AlGaAs waveguide microresonators for efficient generation of quadratic frequency combs

Abstract

Optical frequency combs currently represent enabling components in a wide number of fast-growing research fields, from frequency metrology to precision spectroscopy, from synchronization of telecommunication systems to environmental and biomedical spectrometry. As recently demonstrated, quadratic nonlinear media are a promising platform for optical frequency combs generation, through the onset of an internally pumped optical parametric oscillator in cavity enhanced second-harmonic generation systems. We present here a proposal for quadratic frequency comb generation in AlGaAs waveguide resonators. Based on the crystal symmetry properties of the AlGaAs material, quasi-phase matching can be realized in curved geometries (directional quasi-phase matching), thus ensuring efficient optical frequency conversion. We propose a novel design of AlGaAs waveguide resonators with strongly reduced total losses, compatible with long-path, high-quality resonators. By means of a numerical study, we predict efficient frequency comb generation with threshold powers in the microwatt range, paving the way for the full integration of frequency comb synthesizers in photonic circuits.