Lithium Niobate Microdisk Research Articles

Cascaded multi-phonon stimulated Raman scattering near second-harmonic generation in a thin-film lithium niobate microdisk.

High-quality microresonators can greatly enhance light-matter interactions and are excellent platforms for studying nonlinear optics. Wavelength conversion through nonlinear processes is the key to many applications of integrated optics. The stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) process can extend the emission wavelength of a laser source to a wider range. Lithium niobate (LN), as a Raman active crystalline material, has remarkable potential for wavelength conversion. Here, we demonstrate the generation of cascaded multi-phonon Raman signals near the second-harmonic generation (SHG) peak in an X-cut thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) microdisk. Fine tuning of the specific cascaded Raman spectral lines has also been made by changing the pump wavelength. Raman lines can reach a wavelength up to about 80 nm away from the SHG signal. We realize the SFG process associated with Raman signals in the visible range as well. Our work extends the use of WGM microresonators as effective optical upconversion wavelength converters in nonlinear optical applications.

UV-enhanced photorefractive response rate in a thin-film lithium niobate microdisk.

The photorefractive (PR) effect plays a critical role in emerging photonic technologies, including dynamic volume holography and on-chip all-optical functionalities. Nevertheless, its slow response rate has posed a significant obstacle to its practical application. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the enhancement of the PR response rate in a high-Q thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) microdisk under UV light irradiation. At an irradiation intensity of 30 mW/cm2, the PR effect achieves a high response bandwidth of approximately 256 kHz. By employing this UV-assisted PR effect, we have achieved rapid laser-cavity locking and self-stabilization, where perturbations are automatically compensated. This technique paves the way toward real-time dynamic holography, editable photonic devices on a lithium niobate platform, and high-speed all-optical information processing.

Efficient second and third harmonic generation in dual-layer lithium niobate microdisk resonator

Efficient second and third harmonic generation in dual-layer lithium niobate microdisk resonator

On-chip erbium-ytterbium-co-doped lithium niobate microdisk laser with an ultralow threshold.

Erbium-ion-doped lithium niobate (LN) microcavity lasers working in the communication band have attracted extensive attention recently. However, their conversion efficiencies and laser thresholds still have significant room to improve. Here, we prepared microdisk cavities based on erbium-ytterbium-co-doped LN thin film by using ultraviolet lithography, argon ion etching, and a chemical-mechanical polishing process. Benefiting from the erbium-ytterbium co-doping-induced gain coefficient improvement, laser emission with an ultralow threshold (∼1 µW) and high conversion efficiency (1.8 × 10-3%) was observed in the fabricated microdisks under a 980-nm-band optical pump. This study provides an effective reference for improving the performance of LN thin-film lasers.

Sum-frequency generation in a high-quality thin film lithium niobate microdisk via cyclic quasi-phase matching

Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators can dramatically boost the interaction between light and matter, making them an ideal platform for studying nonlinear optics. Efficient wavelength conversion by nonlinear parametric processes is key to integrated optics in many applications, where WGM microresonators play an important role. Here, we demonstrate efficient second-harmonic generation (SHG) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) in an x-cut thin film lithium niobate microdisk with a high intrinsic quality factor over 106. The normalized conversion efficiency of cyclic quasi-phase-matched (CQPM) SHG and SFG is measured to be 1.53%/mW and 2.52×10−4/mW, respectively. Our work expands nonlinear optics applications of CQPM WGM microresonators as efficient wavelength convertors for light upconversion.

Electro‐Optically Tunable Low Phase‐Noise Microwave Synthesizer in an Active Lithium Niobate Microdisk

AbstractPhotonic‐based low‐phase‐noise microwave generation with real‐time frequency tuning is crucial for a broad spectrum of subjects, including next‐generation wireless communications, radar, metrology, and modern instrumentation. Here, for the first time to the best of the authors’ knowledge, narrow‐bandwidth dual‐wavelength microlasers are generated from nearly‐degenerate polygon modes in a high‐Q active lithium niobate microdisk. The record‐high‐Q (≈107) nearly‐degenerate polygon modes formation with independently controllable resonant wavelengths and free spectral ranges is enabled by the weak perturbation of the microdisks using a tapered fiber. Moreover, because a high spatial overlap factor between the pump and the dual‐wavelength laser modes is achieved, the gain competition between the two lasing modes spatially separated with a π‐phase difference is suppressed, leading to stable dual‐wavelength laser generation with low threshold, and in turn, the low noise microwave source. The stable beating signal confirms the low phase‐noise achieved in the tunable laser. Without the need of external phase stabilizers, the measured microwave signal shows a phase noise of −123 dBc Hz−1 and an electro‐optic tuning efficiency of −1.66 MHz V−1. The linewidth of the microwave signal is measured as 6.87 kHz, which is more than three orders of magnitude narrower than current records based on integrated dual‐lasers.

Electro-optic tuning of a single-frequency ultranarrow linewidth microdisk laser

Single-frequency ultranarrow linewidth on-chip microlasers with a fast wavelength tunability play a game-changing role in a broad spectrum of applications ranging from coherent communication, light detection and ranging, to metrology and sensing. Design and fabrication of such light sources remain a challenge due to the difficulties in making a laser cavity that has an ultrahigh optical quality (Q) factor and supports only a single lasing frequency simultaneously. Here, we demonstrate a unique single-frequency ultranarrow linewidth lasing mechanism on an erbium ion-doped lithium niobate (LN) microdisk through simultaneous excitation of high-Q polygon modes at both pump and laser wavelengths. As the polygon modes are sparse within the optical gain bandwidth compared with the whispering gallery mode counterpart, while their Q factors (above 10 million) are even higher due to the significantly reduced scattering on their propagation paths, single-frequency lasing with a linewidth as narrow as 322 Hz is observed. The measured linewidth is three orders of magnitude narrower than the previous record in on-chip LN microlasers. Finally, enabled by the strong linear electro-optic effect of LN, real-time electro-optical tuning of the microlaser with a high tuning efficiency of ∼50 pm / 100 V is demonstrated.

On-chip ytterbium-doped lithium niobate microdisk lasers with high conversion efficiency.

Integrated optical systems based on lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) have attracted the interest of researchers. Recently, erbium-doped LNOI lasers have been realized. However, the reported lasers have a relatively lower conversion efficiency and only operate in the 1550 nm band. In this paper, we demonstrate an LNOI laser operating in the 1060 nm band based on a high Q factor ytterbium-doped LNOI microdisk cavity. The threshold and the conversion efficiency of the laser are 21.19 µW and 1.36%, respectively. To our knowledge, the conversion efficiency is the highest among the reported rare-earth-doped LNOI lasers. This research extends the operating band of LNOI lasers and shows the potential in realizing high-power LNOI lasers.

Broadband highly efficient nonlinear optical processes in on-chip integrated lithium niobate microdisk resonators of Q-factor above 108

Microresonators of ultrahigh quality (Q) factors represent a crucial type of photonic devices aiming at ultra-high spectral resolution, ultra-high sensitivity to the environmental perturbations, and efficient nonlinear wavelength conversions at low threshold pump powers. Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) microdisks of high Q factors are particularly attractive due to its large second-order nonlinear coefficient and strong electro-optic property. In this letter, we break through the long standing bottleneck in achieving the Q factors of LNOI microresonators beyond 108, which approaches the intrinsic material absorption limit of lithium niobate (LN). The ultra-high Q factors give rise to a rich family of nonlinear optical phenomena from optical parametric oscillation (OPO) to harmonics generation with unprecedented characteristics including ultra-low pump threshold, high wavelength conversion efficiency, and ultra-broad operation bandwidth. Specifically, the threshold of OPO is measured to be only 19.6 μW, and the absolute conversion efficiency observed in the second harmonic generation reaches 23%. The record-breaking performances of the on-chip ultra-high Q LNOI microresonators will have profound implication for both photonic research and industry.

On-chip microdisk laser on Yb3+-doped thin-film lithium niobate.

We demonstrate an on-chip Yb3+-doped lithium niobate (LN) microdisk laser. The intrinsic quality factors of the fabricated Yb3+-doped LN microdisk resonator are measured up to 3.79×105 at a 976 nm wavelength and 1.1×106 at a 1514 nm wavelength. The multi-mode laser emissions are obtained in a band from 1020 to 1070 nm pumped by a 984 nm laser and with the low threshold of 103µW, resulting in a slope efficiency of 0.53% at room temperature. Furthermore, both the second-harmonic frequency of pump light and the sum frequency of the pump light and laser emissions are generated in the on-chip Yb3+-doped LN microdisk, benefiting from the strong χ(2) nonlinearity of LN. These microdisk lasers are expected to contribute to the high-density integration of a lithium niobate on insulator-based photonic chip.

Polygon Coherent Modes in a Weakly Perturbed Whispering Gallery Microresonator for Efficient Second Harmonic, Optomechanical, and Frequency Comb Generations.

We observe high optical quality factor (Q) polygonal and star coherent optical modes in a lithium niobate microdisk. In contrast to the previous polygon modes achieved by deformed microcavities at lower mechanical and optical Q, we adopt weak perturbation from a tapered fiber for the polygon mode formation. The resulting high intracavity optical power of the polygon modes triggers second harmonic generation at high efficiency. With the combined advantages of a high mechanical Q cavity, we observe optomechanical oscillation in polygon modes for the first time. Finally, we observe frequency microcomb generation from the polygon modes with an ultrastable taper-on-disk coupling mechanism.

Efficient electro-optical tuning of an optical frequency microcomb on a monolithically integrated high-Q lithium niobate microdisk.

We demonstrate efficient tuning of a monolithically integrated lithium niobate (LN) microdisk optical frequency microcomb. Utilizing the high optical quality (Q) factor (i.e., Q∼7.1×106) of the microdisk, the microcomb spans over a spectral bandwidth of ∼200nm at a pump power as low as 20.4 mW. Combining the large electro-optic coefficient of LN and the optimum design of the geometry of microelectrodes, we demonstrate electro-optical tuning of the comb with a spectral range of 400 pm and a tuning efficiency of ∼38pm/100V.

Microdisk resonators with lithium-niobate film on silicon substrate.

In this paper, we report the fabrication of lithium niobate (LN) microdisk resonators on a pulsed-laser deposited polycrystalline LN film on a silicon substrate rather than commercially provide LN film on insulator. The quality factor of these polycrystalline LN microdisks were measured above 3.4×104 in the 1550-nm band. Second harmonic generation was demonstrated in the fabricated microresonators. Because the properties of homemade LN film can be easily tuned by doping various ions, LN devices on homemade LN film may have more flexible functions and broad applications.

Broadband Quasi-Phase-Matched Harmonic Generation in an On-Chip Monocrystalline Lithium Niobate Microdisk Resonator.

We reveal a unique broadband natural quasi-phase-matching (QPM) mechanism underlying an observation of highly efficient second- and third-order harmonic generation at multiple wavelengths in an x-cut lithium niobate (LN) microdisk resonator. For light waves in the transverse-electric mode propagating along the circumference of the microdisk, the effective nonlinear optical coefficients naturally oscillate periodically to change both the sign and magnitude, facilitating QPM without the necessity of domain engineering in the micrometer-scale LN disk. The second-harmonic and cascaded third-harmonic waves are simultaneously generated with normalized conversion efficiencies as high as 9.9%/mW and 1.05%/mW^{2}, respectively, thanks to the utilization of the highest nonlinear coefficient d_{33} of LN. The high efficiency achieved with the microdisk of a diameter of ∼30 μm is beneficial for realizing high-density integration of nonlinear photonic devices such as wavelength convertors and entangled photon sources.

Quality improvement and mode evolution of high-Q lithium niobate micro-disk induced by “light annealing”

High-quality factor microresonators are a key component in photonic integrated circuits. However, it is more difficult to precisely engineer a single component after fabrication as integration density gets higher. In this work, we improve the quality factor of the fabricated resonator by femtosecond laser shots. The high repetition laser pulses scatter into the cavity, and then the localized high-density light field introduces a light refining and “annealing” process that may restore the lattice disorders. The intrinsic quality factor of a measured mode can be promoted from 2.17×10 5 to 1.84×10 6. Moreover, increasing the shot power may kill the high order modes, and only the fundamental mode survives. This method may inspire new potential application in femtosecond laser modification in photonic integrated circuits.

Periodically poled lithium niobate whispering gallery mode microcavities on a chip

In this study, we investigate the fabrication of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) microdisk cavities on a chip. These resonators are fabricated from a PPLN film with a 16 μm poling period on insulator using conventional microfabrication techniques. The quality factor of the PPLN microdisk resonators with a 40-μm radius and a 700-nm thickness is 6.7×105. Second harmonic generation (SHG) with an efficiency of 2.2×10−6 mW−1 is demonstrated in the fabricated PPLN microdisks. The nonlinear conversion efficiency could be considerably enhanced by optimizing the period and pattern of the poled structure and by improving the cavity quality factors.

Sum-frequency generation in on-chip lithium niobate microdisk resonators

We report the first observation, to the best of our knowledge, of sum-frequency generation in on-chip lithium niobate microdisk resonators. The sum-frequency signal in the 780 nm band, distinct in wavelength from second-harmonic signals, was obtained in lithium niobate microresonators under the pump of two individual 1550 nm band lasers. The sum-frequency conversion efficiency was measured to be 1.4×10−7 mW−1. The dependence of the intensities of the nonlinear signals on the total pump power and the wavelength of one pump laser was investigated while fixing the wavelength of the other. This work paves the way for applications of on-chip lithium niobate microdisk resonators ranging from infrared single-photon detection to infrared spectroscopy.

On-chip second-harmonic generation and broadband parametric down-conversion in a lithium niobate microresonator.

Nonlinear wavelength conversion is essential for many classical and quantum pho-tonic applications. The underlying second-order nonlinear optical processes, however, generally exhibit limited spectral bandwidths that impact their application potential. Here we use a high-Q X-cut lithium niobate microdisk resonator to demonstrate both second-harmonic generation and spontaneous parametric down-conversion on chip. In particular, our lithium niobate microresonator, with its wide-range cyclic phase matching and rich optical mode structures, is able to achieve ultra-broadband spontaneous parametric down-conversion, with a bandwidth over 400 nm, inferred from recorded spectra of the down-converted photons. The produced biphoton pairs exhibit strong temporal correlation, with a coincidence-to-accidental ratio measured to be 43.1. Our device is promising for integrated quantum photonics where optical frequency could be used as a degree of freedom for signal processing.

Sum Frequency and Second Harmonic Generations in Lithium Niobate Microdisk Resonators on a Chip

We report both sum frequency and second harmonic generations in on-chip lithium niobate microdisk resonators under the pump of two independent lasers. The conversion efficiency of sum frequency generation was measured to be 8.3×10-9 mW-1, which are on the same order as the accompanied second harmonics. The dependence of upconversion signals on the wavelength of one pump laser was investigated.

Monolithic integration of a lithium niobate microresonator with a free-standing waveguide using femtosecond laser assisted ion beam writing

We demonstrated integrating a high quality factor lithium niobate microdisk resonator with a free-standing membrane waveguide. Our technique is based on femtosecond laser direct writing which produces the pre-structure, followed by focused ion beam milling which reduces the surface roughness of sidewall of the fabricated structure to nanometer scale. Efficient light coupling between the integrated waveguide and microdisk was achieved, and the quality factor of the microresonator was measured as high as 1.67 × 105.