Resonator Research Articles

Effects of cavity resonance and antenna resonance on mode transitions in helicon plasma

Mechanisms of cavity resonance and antenna resonance and their coupling effects on mode transitions in argon helicon plasma excited by a half-helical antenna (14 cm in length) were investigated in this paper. Cavity length was changed to distinguish the effects of cavity and antenna resonances in experiments. Plasma parameters under various discharge conditions, such as input power (0–2500 W), magnetic field (0–1000 G) and cavity length (10–42 cm) were measured. Characteristics of helicon discharges and mode transitions in cases of fixed and continuously changing cavity lengths were compared. The results show that multiple axial eigenmodes (at least five in the present work) were observed in both cases. In fixed-length cavities, the helicon discharge changes abruptly during mode transitions, while in changeable-length cavities, discharge features can change continuously (e.g. in a large range of density from 1.7 × 1012 to 1.3 × 1013 cm−3) without mode transition. Mode transitions also occur as the cavity length increases at fixed input power and magnetic field with periodical variations of plasma parameters. Cavity resonance plays a dominant role in the formation of standing helicon waves of eigenmodes and mode transitions, while antenna resonance significantly affects the transition from inductively coupled modes to helicon wave modes. Enhanced inter-coupling of cavity resonance and antenna resonance appears at specific axial wavelengths of eigenmodes. The threshold conditions for mode transitions were deduced and the overall transition path of wave modes and the corresponding density were predicted quantitatively, which shows that cavity resonance determines the transition path of wave modes, while antenna resonance gives the lower limit of the transition path. Characteristics of helicon discharge and mode transition are closely related to the axial wavenumber. Cavity and antenna resonances influence the helicon discharge and mode transition by determining the axial wavenumber of eigenmodes.

Quadripartite quantum steering generated by single-pass cascaded nonlinear processes

Quantum steering has become an important resource for quantum information due to its unique asymmetry. In this paper, quadripartite quantum steering generated by single-pass nondegenerate optical parametric amplification cascaded with a sum-frequency process is investigated. Firstly, an idler beam is produced by a different-frequency process between pump and signal. Secondly, a sum-frequency beam is generated by a cascaded sum-frequency process between idler beam and pump in the same optical superlattice. Quadripartite quantum steering among pump, signal, idler and sum-frequency beams is demonstrated based on the criterion for multipartite quantum steering. The influences of nonlinear coupling coefficients κ, dimensionless propagation length ξ, and the initial values of pump and signal on the variation characteristic of the quadripartite steering are also investigated. The results indicate that slightly larger nonlinear coupling coefficients of cascaded nonlinear processes and weaker signals can achieve better quadripartite quantum steering. This simple quadripartite quantum steering preparation scheme does not require a resonant cavity and is easier to implement experimentally, with potential applications in quantum communication and computing.

High-speed GeSn resonance cavity enhanced photodetectors for a 50 Gbps Si-based 2 μm band communication system

Expanding the optical communication band is one of the most effective methods of overcoming the nonlinear Shannon capacity limit of single fiber. In this study, GeSn resonance cavity enhanced (RCE) photodetectors (PDs) with an active layer Sn component of 9%–10.8% were designed and fabricated on an SOI substrate. The GeSn RCE PDs present a responsivity of 0.49 A/W at 2 μm and a 3-dB bandwidth of approximately 40 GHz at 2 μm. Consequently, Si-based 2 μm band optical communication with a transmission rate of 50 Gbps was demonstrated by using a GeSn RCE detector. This work demonstrates the considerable potential of the Si-based 2 μm band photonics in future high-speed and high-capacity optical communication.

Pumping with symmetry

Re-configurable materials and meta-materials can jump between space symmetry classes during their deformations. Here, we introduce the concept of singular symmetry enhancement, which refers to an abrupt jump to a higher symmetry class accompanied by an un-avoidable reduction in the number of dispersion bands of the excitations of the material. Such phenomenon prompts closings of some of the spectral resonant gaps along singular manifolds in a parameter space. In this work, we demonstrate that these singular manifolds can carry topological charges. As a concrete example, we show that a deformation of an acoustic crystal that encircles a configuration of an array of cavity resonators results in an adiabatic cycle that carries a Chern number in the bulk and displays Thouless pumping at the edges. This points to a very general guiding principle for recognizing cyclic adiabatic processes with high potential for topological pumping in complex materials and meta-materials, which rests entirely on symmetry arguments.

Angle and Polarization Insensitive Mid-Infrared Optical Filters Using Dense 2D Array of Nanophotonic Cavity Resonators

Angle and Polarization Insensitive Mid-Infrared Optical Filters Using Dense 2D Array of Nanophotonic Cavity Resonators

Ultrafast wavelength sweeping of surface plasmon lasing in planar metal grating with semiconductor gain

Surface plasmon (SP) lasing, characterized by strong light–matter interaction at a metal interface, can derive from SP cavities coupled with a semiconductor gain material. With this setup, we demonstrate ultrafast wavelength sweeping of SP lasing in a metal grating. When the device was optically pumped by ultrashort pulses with sufficient power, a wavelength sweep over 10 nm within 50 ps was obtained in the telecom band of 1550 nm. Based on the pump-power-dependent lasing wavelength change in combination with finite-difference time-domain simulation, we attribute the wavelength sweep to a modulation of the SP cavity that induces changes in the refractive index from changes in the carrier density. Such a refractive index change is a critical factor in determining SP cavity resonance.

Internal and external variables influencing microwave dielectric properties of (1-x)Mg(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3-xSrTiO3 ceramics

The physical and chemical state of ceramics are very important for their microwave dielectric properties, especially at high frequencies above GHz. Therefore, the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of (1-x)Mg(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3–xSrTiO3((1-x)MZT–xST) ceramics were investigated by controlling external variables. The compounds were synthesized through a solid-state reaction mechanism and sintered at relatively low temperatures. A cavity resonator method was employed to analyze the microwave dielectric properties. Optimal sintering conditions significantly enhanced the microwave dielectric performance of MZTST ceramics. The addition of ZnO substantially reduced the sintering temperature and equilibrium sintering time, enabling the activation of optimal conditions and the achievement of temperature-stable microwave dielectrics like NP0: εr ∼20.16 at 10 GHz, Qf of ∼81839 GHz at 7.93 GHz, and τf close to zero (∼0.12 ppm/°C). This enhanced performance was attributed to the optimization of internal variables, including enhanced relative density, homogeneous grain size, optimal phase fraction, and chemical ordering.

Wideband Low-Profile Fabry-Perot Cavity Antenna with Metasurface

A novel Fabry-Perot cavity (FPC) antenna with metasurface is presented, which can achieve broad bandwidth and low profile. Traditional FPC antennas, with rectangular microstrip antennas as feeds, have limited impedance bandwidth and struggle to make a compromise in the gain bandwidth and maximum gain value. To obtain wide bandwidth, the FPC antenna proposed in this paper utilizes a feed antenna loaded with parasitic patches. To widen impedance bandwidth and gain bandwidth and reduce the profile, a positive phase gradient partially reflective surface (PRS) and an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) are located above and below the feed antenna, respectively. The phase property of the PRS and AMC also brings in a more smooth gain value curve. To further increase gain values, four metal reflector plates are located around the proposed antenna. The overall dimension of the antenna is 2.5λ0×2.5λ0×0.25λ0 (λ0 is the free space wavelength at 7.5 GHz). Simulated results show that the resonant cavity antenna proposed in this letter exhibits an impedance bandwidth of 13.3% (7–8 GHz) and a 3 dB gain bandwidth of 14.3% (7.02–8.10 GHz). The maximum gain in the whole operating band is 14.5 dBi. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated ones.

Wavelength tunable ring cavity erbium-doped fibre laser based on tapered Fabry Perot filter fabricated by hydrofluoric acid corrosion for stretch sensing

In this study, the erbium-doped fiber laser with a ring cavity and a Fabry-Perot (F-P) filter was proposed and experimentally verified. In the design of the laser, hydrofluoric acid was employed for chemical etching to prepare the F-P cavity, and tapering was applied to the F-P cavity to enhance sensitivity. The experimentally prepared F-P filter was placed in the resonant cavity and served as a frequency-selective device for the fiber laser. At a laser threshold of 48 mW, we obtained a single-wavelength laser output at 1565.28 nm, with a 3 dB linewidth of 0.29 nm. To evaluate the stretching sensing performance of the EDFL system, we performed stretching of the F-P filter. The experimental results demonstrated that within a stretching length range of 0 to 3 mm, we could obtain a single-wavelength laser that could be tuned from 1559.57 to 1567.04 nm, corresponding to a tuning range of 7.47 nm. The laser showed a sensitivity of 2.73 nm/mm and a goodness of fit 0.999. Monitoring the stability of a single-wavelength laser within 30 min, the signal-to-noise ratio was greater than 27.212 dB, and the power fluctuation was less than 0.712 dB. Additionally, the polarization controller was adjusted to obtain two different dual-wavelength lasers with a power fluctuation of less than 0.71 dB.

A compact continuous-wave intracavity frequency doubling Pr:YLF ultraviolet laser at 360 nm

We demonstrate a continuous-wave (CW) ultraviolet (UV) laser operating at 360 nm, achieved through intracavity frequency doubling of a Pr:YLF laser. This UV laser is more compact and simpler compared to previously reported designs, due to the adoption of a straight cavity. The total length of the laser system measures 75 mm, with a resonant cavity length of only 25 mm. By utilizing an InGaN laser diode (LD) emitting at 444 nm with a maximum incident power of 3.1 W, we were able to achieve a CW UV laser with an output power of 252 mW. The optical to optical conversion efficiency reached up to 8.1%, and the output power stability remained within ±1.9% over a period of two hours. This innovative UV laser has potential applications in various fields such as spectral analysis, material analysis, bioengineering, optoelectronic detection, and medical treatment.

All-solid-state ultrafast 2µm laser with 1.83 W output power.

In this paper, a high-power all-solid-state ultrafast 2µm mode-locked laser is investigated. The particularity of this laser is the simultaneous utilization of two Tm:YAP crystals in the same resonant cavity, independently pumped by two laser diodes. Using a 20% output coupler, pulses with output power as high as 1.83W are achieved at a wavelength of 1938nm with a pulse duration of 1.97ps and a pulse repetition frequency of 100MHz. To our knowledge, this mode-locked laser achieves the highest output power of any mode-locked Tm:YAP ultrafast laser reported to date. In addition, this paper provides a new approach to solve the problem of low output power due to multi-mode low-brightness laser diode pumping.

Controlling Molecular Photoisomerization in Photonic Cavities through Polariton Funneling.

Strong coupling between photonic modes and molecular electronic excitations, creating hybrid light-matter states called polaritons, is an attractive avenue for controlling chemical reactions. Nevertheless, experimental demonstrations of polariton-modified chemical reactions remain sparse. Here, we demonstrate modified photoisomerization kinetics of merocyanine and diarylethene by coupling the reactant's optical transition with photonic microcavity modes. We leverage broadband Fourier-plane optical microscopy to noninvasively and rapidly monitor photoisomerization within microcavities, enabling systematic investigation of chemical kinetics for different cavity-exciton detunings and photoexcitation conditions. We demonstrate three distinct effects of cavity coupling: first, a renormalization of the photonic density of states, akin to a Purcell effect, leads to enhanced absorption and isomerization rates at certain wavelengths, notably red-shifting the onset of photoisomerization. This effect is present under both strong and weak light-matter couplings. Second, kinetic competition between polariton localization into reactive molecular states and cavity losses leads to a suppression of the photoisomerization yield. Finally, our key result is that in reaction mixtures with multiple reactant isomers, exhibiting partially overlapping optical transitions and distinct isomerization pathways, the cavity resonance can be tuned to funnel photoexcitations into specific reactant isomers. Thus, upon decoherence, polaritons localize into a chosen isomer, selectively triggering the latter's photoisomerization despite initially being delocalized across all isomers. This result suggests that careful tuning of the cavity resonance is a promising avenue to steer chemical reactions and enhance product selectivity in reaction mixtures.

Sonic Crystal Noise Barrier with Resonant Cavities for Train Brake Noise Mitigation

In an experimental investigation, the development of sonic crystal noise barriers (SCNBs) is undertaken to address the issue of train brake noise (TBN), focusing on the use of local resonances in scatterers of sonic crystals. Recent research has shown that the inclusion of cavity resonators in the crystal scatterers allows for the modification of their insulating properties. In those works, it has been demonstrated that this interaction can be used to build highly insulating structures. The study proposes an SCNB design that includes a resonant cavity specifically to mitigate TBN and validates this design through experimental measures. The experiments confirm the enhanced sound insulation capabilities of SCNBs, compare them to the conventional noise barriers ones and demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed design in real-world scenarios.

Four-band highly sensitive tunable absorber based on Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals

This paper introduces a four-band tunable perfect absorber built on Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal. The operating frequency range is 4.75 THz to 9.25 THz, which is in the terahertz band. The absorber exhibits multiple narrow bands, polarization incoherence, high sensitivity, and tunability. The structure comprises a gold layer, a silica dielectric layer, and a top layer of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal from bottom to top. The Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal structure at the top consists of a circular ring left after being cut by a 45° rotation of the cruciform and a cruciform design containing a central circular cavity. Simulation results reveal four absorption peaks attributed to cavity resonance and surface plasmon resonance, with absorption efficiencies of 0.998, 0.994, 0.989, and 0.998, respectively. Furthermore, changing the radius of the inner ring in the top layer structure allows for varying the number of absorption peaks. We also propose a new fabrication process for Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals absorbers. The calculated results demonstrate that the designed absorber, characterized by a simple structure and high sensitivity of 2620 GHz/RIU, holds significant potential for applications in optical switches, optical modulators, biomedicine, and sensing.

A high-intensity low-frequency acoustic generator based on the Helmholtz resonator and airflow modulator.

The high-intensity low-frequency acoustic sources have essential applications in acoustic biological effects research, airport bird repelling, and boiler ash removal. However, generating high-intensity low-frequency acoustic waves in open space is difficult. In this paper, a low-frequency acoustic generator with a resonant cavity used to enhance the acoustic intensity in open space was developed, which is an aerodynamic acoustic generator to radiates a high-intensity acoustic wave of 52Hz. Some experiments were carried out to measure this generator's internal flow field and radiated acoustic field characteristics, including the propagation characteristics at 100m. The experimental results show that the resonant enhancement effect is presented near the predetermined resonance frequency, and the enhanced value is about 4dB. The acoustic intensity for 52Hz at 1m position is 124dB. By combining the Helmholtz resonator with the airflow modulator, the airflow resonance in the resonator enhances the air pressure pulsation inside the chamber and increases the disturbance of acoustic radiation to the air. So as to improve the sound intensity and radiation efficiency in the low-frequency range.

An ultra-broadband high-performance solar energy perfect absorber from deep ultraviolet to mid-infrared

Metamaterial absorbers possess potential applications in a large number of fields, including solar energy harvesting, photovoltaics, stealth technology and sensors, owing to their capability to achieve perfect absorption of electromagnetic waves. In this study, a solar metamaterial absorber comprising a TiN substrate, a SiO2 spacer layer and an array of patterned-layer TiN-SiO2 double circular employing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is proposed to achieve perfect absorption in ultra-broadband. Optimization results indicate that the broadband absorption spectrum of the absorber extends from deep ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths with an average absorption of 98.1%. The distribution of electric and magnetic fields suggests that the absorber achieves high absorption due to the interaction between surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cavity resonance (CR) and magnetic resonance (MR). Furthermore, the proposed absorber is insensitive to large-angle incidence and polarization-independent. Moreover, the absorber can be produced at a low cost due to its tolerance of the geometrical errors. The newly proposed metamaterial absorber is expected to be applied in solar energy related fields.

Dual-path coupling V-shaped structure off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (V-OA-ICOS) for water vapor stable isotope detection at 3.66 μm

Residual cavity mode noise and weak output signal are the main factors that restrict the detection performance of off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS). In order to overcome the above drawbacks, a novel V-shaped off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (V-OA-ICOS) device was demonstrated, and the dual-path coupling method was further proposed. The dual-path coupling V-OA-ICOS device can not only suppress the residual cavity mode noise but also enhance the intensity of the output signal. The V-shaped resonator cavity ensures a more uniform and square-shaped spot pattern distribution on the surface of the highly reflective mirrors, significantly reducing spots overlap. The dual-path coupling method can re-couple the laser reflected by the front cavity mirror, thereby increasing the total energy and mode density of the cavity. The spectrum of water vapor stable isotopes HD16O and H216O at 3.66 μm was measured to illustrate the performance of the presented approach, the dual-path coupling V-OA-ICOS increases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor ∼ 2.1 compared to single path V-OA-ICOS and the signal intensity by a factor of ∼ 2. The δD variation was obtained by measuring the outdoor water vapor isotope using this device for three consecutive days. The variation range of δD is −220‰ ∼ −120‰. This work proposes a new cavity structure and optical re-coupling method, which offers a novel approach to enhance the performance of OA-ICOS devices.

Chiral metasurface absorber with near-infrared excitation-induced dual circular dichroism

Microscopic components in metasurfaces allow precise control of electromagnetic waves, enabling chiral metasurface absorbers to adapt to different frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic waves, providing higher controllability. In this paper, we present a near-infrared chiral absorber utilizing a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) structure, achieving selective absorption in the dual wavelength ranges of 1500–1750 nm and 2250–2750 nm. The absorber's structural layout adopts a pseudo-π configuration, featuring a unique design that establishes distinct resonance cavities between structural periods. This results in disparate responses to left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) light and right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) light, thereby attaining dual-band selectivity and adjustability. To illustrate the physical mechanism, we explore the electric and magnetic field distributions within this structure, offering deeper insights into the fundamental mechanism of selective absorption. This analysis illustrates that the charge distribution in different wavelength bands can vary with the polarization direction, forming orthogonal electric dipoles. Under the incidence of LCP and RCP, we achieved circular dichroism (CD) of 0.75 and 0.7, respectively. By adjusting parameters within individual resonance cavities, we achieve independent control over each resonance wavelength. This near-infrared chiral absorber provides unparalleled design flexibility, with implications for advancements in applications such as molecular detection and optical switching.

Resonant-cavity-enhanced 4H-SiC thin film MSM UV photodetectors on SiO2/Si substrates

Heterogeneous integration of 4H-SiC film with Si substrate can produce ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PD) with higher performance and easier integration with silicon CMOS circuits than homogenous epitaxy of 4H-SiC on SiC substrates. In this study, 1.2 µm thick high-quality single crystalline 4H-SiC thin films were successfully bonded with SiO2/Si (100) substrates using the Smart-Cut technique, achieving bubble-free bonding interfaces and 6.03 MPa bonding strength. UV PDs of metal–semiconductor–metal type with a resonant cavity structure were fabricated for the first time using the heterogenous film sample. The device exhibits a low dark current of 1.6 × 10−13 A in reverse bias of 20 V and a maximum specific detectivity of about 5.2 × 1012 Jones at 280 nm, which is significant for a device with a resonance-enhanced structure. These results demonstrate a promising approach for the fabrication of 4H-SiC devices with silicon CMOS circuits.

Optical feedback frequency locking: impact of directly reflected field and responding strategies.

The challenges presented by the directly reflected field in optical feedback cavity-enhanced spectroscopy systems serve as substantial obstacles, introducing additional complexity to existing systems and compromising their sensitivity, as the underlying mechanisms of its adverse effects remain not fully understood. This study aims to address this issue by introducing a comprehensive analytical model. Additionally, frequency locking can be achieved by decreasing the feedback rate, the laser's linewidth enhancement factor, and the directly reflected field, and by increasing the refractive index of the gain medium, the length of the laser's resonant cavity, the electric field reflectivity of the laser's output facet, and the resonant field. These parameters can affect the feedback coupling rate pre-factor, and for a resonant cavity with a length of 0.394 m, optical feedback can only be established when the feedback coupling rate pre-factor is less than 1.05 × 109. Through experimental validation, we successfully confirm the effectiveness of the proposed solution in eliminating the detrimental effects of the directly reflected field. Importantly, this suppression is achieved without compromising other aspects of the system's performance. The research findings not only offer the potential to optimize various cavity-enhanced spectroscopy systems that rely on optical feedback but also show promising applications in advancing the development of high-purity spectrum diode lasers utilizing optical feedback from an external high-finesse cavity.