Optical Ring Cavity Research Articles

Topological band structure via twisted photons in a degenerate cavity

Synthetic dimensions based on particles’ internal degrees of freedom, such as frequency, spatial modes and arrival time, have attracted significant attention. They offer ideal large-scale lattices to simulate nontrivial topological phenomena. Exploring more synthetic dimensions is one of the paths toward higher dimensional physics. In this work, we design and experimentally control the coupling among synthetic dimensions consisting of the intrinsic photonic orbital angular momentum and spin angular momentum degrees of freedom in a degenerate optical resonant cavity, which generates a periodically driven spin-orbital coupling system. We directly characterize the system’s properties, including the density of states, energy band structures and topological windings, through the transmission intensity measurements. Our work demonstrates a mechanism for exploring the spatial modes of twisted photons as the synthetic dimension, which paves the way to design rich topological physics in a highly compact platform.

Microcavity coupled quantum dot emission with detuning control.

Solution processed colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have size-tunable optical transitions and high quantum efficiencies, enabling various applications in opto-electronic devices. To enrich the functionality of QD-based opto-electronic devices, colloidal semiconductor QDs have been frequently coupled with optical cavities to enable emission modulation. However, it remains a challenge to fully understand the interaction between the optical cavity resonance and the QD emission, especially for the planar optical microcavities. Here, we have investigated the light emission of colloidal semiconductor QDs in the planar Fabry-Perot microcavity consisted of two Ag mirrors. With the matched QD and cavity resonance, the microcavity coupled QD samples show a prominently narrower emission linewidth and emission angle range because of the efficient QD-cavity coupling, while with a slightly positive or negative energy detuning, the linewidth and angular distribution of the microcavity coupled QD emission both become broadened. Furthermore, with the standard lithography technique, the microcavity coupled QD sample can be patterned into arbitrary geometries, showing extra features of in-plane mode confinement. Our work highlights the important role of detuning in determining the coupling between colloidal semiconductor QDs and microcavities and paves the way for the future design of microcavity coupled QD devices.

Graphene nanopores in broadband wide-angle optical cavity resonance absorbers

A cavity resonator containing graphene nanopores (GNPs), along with a metallic layer (Ag, as a reflector) and a dielectric layer (SiO2, as a spacer), has been proposed for broadband wide-angle absorption of light. The GNP/SiO2/Ag multilayers showed high significant increase in the absorption efficiency (with respect to the G/SiO2/Ag multilayer) in a broad spectral range (from ultra-violet (UV) and visible range to near-infrared (NIR)), due to the cavity resonance and absorptions induced by the oxygen-containing functional groups formed around the nanopores of graphene. The dependences of the cavity resonance absorption on the quality of the GNP layer, dimension of the cavity and the incident angle of light have been examined. It was found that the nanopores with sizes of ∼1 nm can induce maximum resonance absorption. The highest absorption in the UV, visible and NIR regions was found for the absorbers contained a cavity with spacers of ∼32, 68 and 256 nm in thickness, respectively. By changing the incidence angle of light, no significant change was observed in the absorption spectra up to angles, ≤40° indicating an omni-directional performance of the GNP-containing multilayers. The proposed multilayer provides designing scalable electromagnetic wave absorbers which require thin material coating with effective absorption in wide wavelengths.

Ultrasensitive nanoscale optomechanical electrometer using photonic crystal cavities.

High-precision detection of electric charge is critical for physical, chemical, and biological measurements. Nanophotonic optomechanical system confines the optical field at the nanoscale and enables a strong interaction between optical cavity and mechanical resonator. Its high optical quality factor cavity and strong optomechanical coupling are promising for precision sensing applications. Here an integrated optomechanical electrometer is proposed for the electric charge sensing using a zipper cavity with a suspended photonic crystal nanobeam (PCN) acting as a movable mechanical resonator. As the electrostatic force arising from the electric voltage to be measured interacts with the mechanical motion of the movable PCN and modulates its resonance through electrostatic stiffening effect, optomechanical coupling transduces the mechanical motion to the optical field with enhanced sensitivity. The resonance shift of the mechanical resonator can be monitored to detect the electric voltage with a sensitivity of 0.007 . Moreover, the sensing performance can be further enhanced with the operation of the optomechanical electrometer in the self-sustained oscillation above threshold power. Owing to the narrow-linewidth of detector radio frequency (RF) spectrum with a large peak-to-noise floor ratio (up to 73.5dB), the enhanced electrical sensitivity of 0.014 is achieved with a high resolution of . A theoretical minimal detectable electrostatic charge is calculated as by converting the measured electric voltage versus RF shift to an approximatively linear relationship. This on-chip optomechanical electrometry scheme provides a powerful solution to the ultrasensitive determination of charged nanoparticles in biological and chemical applications.

Catalysis by Dark States in Vibropolaritonic Chemistry.

Collective strong coupling between a disordered ensemble of N localized molecular vibrations and a resonant optical cavity mode gives rise to two polariton and N-1≫2 dark modes. Thus, experimental changes in thermally activated reaction kinetics due to polariton formation appear entropically unlikely and remain a puzzle. Here we show that the overlooked dark modes, while parked at the same energy as bare molecular vibrations, are robustly delocalized across ∼2-3 molecules, yielding enhanced channels of vibrational cooling, concomitantly catalyzing a chemical reaction. As an illustration, we theoretically show an ≈50% increase in an electron transfer rate due to enhanced product stabilization. The reported effects can arise when the homogeneous linewidths of the dark modes are smaller than their energy spacings.

Enhanced Microwave Electric Field Measurement With Cavity-Assisted Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

We report a scheme for enhancing microwave electric field measurement by cavity-assisted Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency in the 87Rb coherent atomic system. The vacuum Rabi splitting appears when the probe field is strongly coupled with intracavity atoms. The cavity-assisted electromagnetically induced transparency with dual-peak profile is observed as a strong coupling laser is further introduced into the optical ring cavity. The optimal atomic density, resulting in an appropriate vacuum Rabi splitting interval and cavity-assisted electromagnetically induced transparency amplitude, is determined for the coupling effect criterion of the probe field and intracavity atoms. Finally, the cavity-assisted electromagnetically induced transparency is employed to accurately measure the microwave electric field strength, and a measurement sensitivity factor of about 2 is improved owing to an enhanced photon–atom interaction. This study is beneficial for the development of compact, broadband, and self-calibrating microwave receivers.

Thrust measurements of microwave-, superconducting- and laser-type emdrives

Propellantless propulsion concepts based on electromagnetic waves like the EMDrive are claimed to be far superior with respect to the state of the art in spacecraft propulsion systems. Such devices consist of enclosed cavities with different geometric shapes that are injected with electromagnetic waves, producing unidirectional thrust without expelling propellant. Additional concepts emerged from theories like quantised inertia and involve laser-type EMDrives with optical cavity resonators and fiberoptic loops in the infrared spectrum. Claimed forces of these devices in the micronewton range are confronted with growing scepticism when basic conservation laws are applied. With cutting-edge measurement devices, we were able to characterize these concepts in a space-like environment with nanonewton resolution for thruster masses of up to 10 kg. Additionally, we enhanced our inverted double pendulum thrust balance with the ability to perform thrust measurements at cryogenic temperatures (65 K) to also operate a superconducting EMDrive that was claimed to have orders of magnitude higher thrust compared to classical resonators. In this paper, we present changes to each setup, based on criticism to our latest results, as well as thrust measurements of each device. Neither the EMDrive cavities nor the infrared laser resonators created a net-thrust above our balance noise. With the exception of the superconducting EMDrive, our data limits anomalous thrust below the threshold of classical propulsion with photon pressure for equivalent power-levels. Despite the enhancements made to each device, we did not detect any evidence in favour of the proposed theories.

Low‐Cost Copper Electrode for High‐Performance Panchromatic Multiplication‐Type Organic Photodetectors with Optical Microcavity Effect

AbstractLow‐cost and flexible panchromatic organic photodetectors (OPDs) are one of the most promising alternatives in next‐generation wearable electronics, but they still face the formidable challenges of replacing brittle indium tin oxide electrode and suffer from low near‐infrared (NIR) photo‐response. Herein, the low‐cost metal copper (Cu) is used as a semi‐transparent anode to fabricate high‐performance panchromatic multiplication‐type OPDs. Because of the advantages of smooth surface, lower sheet resistance, and good transmittance, high‐quality optical resonant cavity forming between Cu anode and aluminum cathode greatly enhanced the weak sub‐bandgap response of intermolecular charge transfer states in NIR region, while also retaining a good response in the UV–vis region. Due to the good hole‐collecting ability, the Cu electrode is suitable for realizing the photo‐multiplication effect. Accordingly, the resulting OPDs achieve a panchromatic response ranging from the UV (300 nm) to NIR (900 nm) region. The maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) reaches 117 040% at 350 nm, and the relatively high EQE of 25 468% is realized even at 765 nm. Furthermore, a flexible OPD is successfully fabricated by using polyethylene terephthalate substrate with Cu anode to achieve the real‐time detection of human blood oxygen pulse signals.

Fully vacuum‐free semitransparent polymer solar cells for power‐generating window with pure achromatic appealing

AbstractAmong the existing renewable independent energy sources, semitransparent (ST) solar cells have attracted attention owing to their ability to be integrated into the windows of buildings or vehicles. To realize not only practical electricity production but also esthetic appearance, we fabricated PTB7:PC71BM‐based ST polymer solar cells via fully vacuum‐free and low‐cost manufacturing methods. Fully vacuum‐free manufacturing could be achieved from a silver nanowire and conductive polymer‐based transparent lamination top electrode, thereby achieving complete and concrete electrical contact with the underlying polymer bulk‐heterojunction layer through a simple hot‐press lamination step. In addition, for the insertion of an appropriate hole‐extracting interlayer between the lamination electrode and polymer layer, ST solar cells with a lamination electrode provided the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.36% with a fill factor (FF) of 53.9%. For comparison, opaque solar cells with a metal top electrode were also fabricated, providing the best PCE of 9.07% with an FF of 65.4%. However, the inferior electricity production of these ST solar cells can be compensated for by its pure achromatic appeal owing to its superior optical properties. Detailed optical analysis was performed to evaluate the compatibility of the lamination electrode‐based ST solar cells for power‐generating window applications. ST solar cells did not exhibit a noticeable optical cavity resonance effect, resulting in an extremely good visual appearance with achromatic sensation and a window illumination source with luminosity of 38.1%, CCT of 6480 K, and general CRI of 95.5 under D65, which is a standard daylight illuminant.

Towards Perfect Absorption of Single Layer CVD Graphene in an Optical Resonant Cavity: Challenges and Experimental Achievements.

Graphene is emerging as a promising material for the integration in the most common Si platform, capable to convey some of its unique properties to fabricate novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. For many real functions and devices however, graphene absorption is too low and must be enhanced. Among strategies, the use of an optical resonant cavity was recently proposed, and graphene absorption enhancement was demonstrated, both, by theoretical and experimental studies. This paper summarizes our recent progress in graphene absorption enhancement by means of Si/SiO2-based Fabry–Perot filters fabricated by radiofrequency sputtering. Simulations and experimental achievements carried out during more than two years of investigations are reported here, detailing the technical expedients that were necessary to increase the single layer CVD graphene absorption first to 39% and then up to 84%. Graphene absorption increased when an asymmetric Fabry–Perot filter was applied rather than a symmetric one, and a further absorption increase was obtained when graphene was embedded in a reflective rather than a transmissive Fabry–Perot filter. Moreover, the effect of the incident angle of the electromagnetic radiation and of the polarization of the light was investigated in the case of the optimized reflective Fabry–Perot filter. Experimental challenges and precautions to avoid evaporation or sputtering induced damage on the graphene layers are described as well, disclosing some experimental procedures that may help other researchers to embed graphene inside PVD grown materials with minimal alterations.

Energy transfer in photosynthesis mediated by resonant confinement of exciton-polariton

The ultra efficiency of energy transfer in photosynthesis has important biological significance. The underlying mechanism of energy transfer has never stopped being explored. Possible roles of quantum mechanics behind the natural phenomenon lead to many explorations in the field. Yet conventional mechanisms based on Förster resonance energy transfer or localized quantum coherence effects face certain challenges in explaining the unusual efficiency. We hereby bring up the attention of the dual properties of wave and particle of quantum mechanics into this context. In a previous research, we attributed the success of a similar efficiency in an artificial photosynthesis experiment to a mechanism mediated by resonant confinement of exciton-polariton. This paper extends the work to biological photosynthesis in higher plants and green sulfur bacteria. We explore specifically whether the exciton-polaritons of light-harvesting pigments, constrained by the optical cavity resonance, can act as intermediate states to mediate energy transfer. Namely, the pigments give a full play to their dual roles, receiving sunlight in the form of particle-like excitons, and rapidly transferring them to the reaction centers in the form of wave-like polaritons for maximal energy utilization. Taking realistic structure and data into account and based on approximate theoretical models, our quantitative estimate shows that such a mechanism is indeed capable of explaining at least partly the efficiency of photosynthesis. With comprehensive discussion, many deficits in the theoretical modeling can be reasonably reduced. Thus the conclusion may be further strengthened by realistic situations. Meanwhile, the underlying approach may also be extended to e.g. photovoltaic applications and neural signal transmissions, offering similar mechanisms for other energy transfer processes.

Optimizing optical resonant cavity locking using fuzzy algorithm (invited)

Optimizing optical resonant cavity locking using fuzzy algorithm (invited)

GaN-Based Resonant-Cavity Light-Emitting Diodes Grown on Si.

GaN-on-Si resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes (RCLEDs) have been successfully fabricated through wafer bonding and Si substrate removal. By combining the chemical mechanical polishing technique, we obtained a roughness of about 0.24 nm for a scan area of 5 μm × 5 μm. The double-sided dielectric distributed Bragg reflectors could form a high-quality optical resonant cavity, and the cavity modes exhibited a linewidth of 1 nm at the peak wavelength of around 405 nm, corresponding to a quality factor of 405. High data transmission in free space with an opening in the eye diagram was exhibited at 150 Mbps, which is limited by the detection system. These results showed that GaN-based RCLEDs grown on Si are promising as a low-cost emitter for visible light communications in future.

Crystallization in Zirconia Film Nano-Layered with Silica.

Gravitational waves are detected using resonant optical cavity interferometers. The mirror coatings’ inherent thermal noise and photon scattering limit sensitivity. Crystals within the reflective coating may be responsible for either or both noise sources. In this study, we explored crystallization reduction in zirconia through nano-layering with silica. We used X-ray diffraction (XRD) to monitor crystal growth between successive annealing cycles. We observed crystal formation at higher temperatures in thinner zirconia layers, indicating that silica is a successful inhibitor of crystal growth. However, the thinnest barriers break down at high temperatures, thus allowing crystal growth beyond each nano-layer. In addition, in samples with thicker zirconia layers, we observe that crystallization saturates with a significant portion of amorphous material remaining.

Point Absorber Limits to Future Gravitational-Wave Detectors.

High-quality optical resonant cavities require low optical loss, typically on the scale of parts per million. However, unintended micron-scale contaminants on the resonator mirrors that absorb the light circulating in the cavity can deform the surface thermoelastically and thus increase losses by scattering light out of the resonant mode. The point absorber effect is a limiting factor in some high-power cavity experiments, for example, the Advanced LIGO gravitational-wave detector. In this Letter, we present a general approach to the point absorber effect from first principles and simulate its contribution to the increased scattering. The achievable circulating power in current and future gravitational-wave detectors is calculated statistically given different point absorber configurations. Our formulation is further confirmed experimentally in comparison with the scattered power in the arm cavity of Advanced LIGO measured by insitu photodiodes. The understanding presented here provides an important tool in the global effort to design future gravitational-wave detectors that support high optical power and thus reduce quantum noise.

On-chip optical pulse train generation through the optomechanical oscillation.

This paper proposes a novel on-chip optical pulse train generator (OPTG) based on optomechanical oscillation (OMO). The OPTG consists of an optical cavity and mechanical resonator, in which OMO periodically modulates the optical cavity field and consequently generates optical pulse trains. The dimensionless method are introduced to simulate the OMO-based OPTG with reduced analysis complexity. We investigate the optomechanical coupling and the dynamic back-action processes, by which we found a dead zone that forbids the OMO, and derived the optimal laser detuning and the minimum threshold power. We analysed the OMO-based OPTG in terms of the pulse shape distortion, extinction ratio (ER) and duty-cycle (DC). Increasing input power, mechanical and optical Q-factors will increase ER, reduce DC and produce sharper and shorter optical pulses. We also discuss the design guidance of OMO-based OPTG and explore its application in distributed fibre optical sensor (DFOS).

Quantum coherent microwave-optical transduction using high-overtone bulk acoustic resonances

A device capable of converting single quanta of the microwave field to the optical domain is an outstanding endeavour in the context of quantum interconnects between distant superconducting qubits, but likewise can have applications in other fields, such as radio astronomy or, in the classical realm, microwave photonics. A variety of transduction approaches, based on optomechanical or electro-optical interactions, have been proposed and realized, yet the required vanishing added noises and an efficiency approaching unity, have not yet been attained. Here we present a new transduction scheme that could in theory satisfy the requirements for quantum coherent bidirectional transduction. Our scheme relies on an intermediary mechanical mode, a high overtone bulk acoustic resonance (HBAR), to coherently couple microwave and optical photons through the piezoelectric and strain-optical effects. Its efficiency results from the combination of integrated Si3N4 photonic circuits with ultra low loss sustaining high intracavity photon numbers with the highly efficient microwave to mechanical transduction offered by piezoelectrically coupled HBAR. We develop a quantum theory for this multipartite system by first introducing a quantization method for the piezoelectric interaction between the microwave mode and the mechanical mode from first principles (which to our knowledge has not been presented in this form), and link the latter to the conventional Butterworth-Van Dyke model. The HBAR is subsequently coupled to a pair of hybridized optical modes from coupled optical ring cavities via the strain-optical effect. We analyze the conversion capabilities of the proposed device using signal flow graphs, and demonstrate that near quantum coherent transduction is possible, with realistic experimental parameters.

New method for residual amplitude modulation control in fibered optical experiments.

When locking the frequency of a laser to an optical cavity resonance, the residual amplitude modulation (RAM), which accompanies the phase modulation necessary to build the error signal, is a major limitation to the frequency stability. We show that the popular method demonstrated by Wong and Hall to cancel this effect, based on the measurement of the RAM using an auxiliary detector, is limited in the case of optical setups exhibiting polarization dependent losses and an imperfect polarizer at the modulator output, such as guided-wave optical systems.We propose and demonstrate a new method, using a single photodetector, to generate the two error signals and demonstrate its usefulness in the case of fibered systems.

Collision of two self-trapped atomic matter wave packets in an optical ring cavity.

The interaction between atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) and light field in an optical ring cavity gives rise to many interesting phenomena such as supersolid and movable self-trapped matter wave packets. Here we examined the collision of two self-trapped atomic matter wave packets in an optical ring cavity, and abundant colliding phenomena have been found in the system. Depending on the magnitude of colliding velocity, the collision dynamics exhibit very different features compared with the cavity-free case. When the initial colliding velocities of the two wave packets are small, they correlatedly oscillate around their initial equilibrium positions with a small amplitude. Increasing the collision velocity leads to severe scattering of the BEC atoms; after the collision, the two self-trapped wave packets usually break into small pieces. Interestingly, we found that such a medium velocity collision is of great phase sensitivity, which may make the system useful in precision matter wave interferometry. When the colliding velocity is further increased, in the bad cavity limit, the two wave packets collide phenomenally similar to two classical particles-they first approach each other, then separate with their shape virtually maintained. However, beyond the bad cavity limit, they experience severe spatial spreading.

Acoustic graphene plasmon resonator based on gold nanowire arrays.

An acoustic graphene plasmon (AGP) resonator based on gold nanowire arrays structure is proposed in this paper. The resonator is designed by continuous graphene layer/gold nanowire arrays/optical resonant cavity. The infrared light excites the AGP in the graphene/gold arrays structure and propagates along the graphene surface. The coupling efficiency can be improved by the optical resonator cavity. The finite-difference time-domain method is used to simulate and optimize the property of the resonator. The results show that the resonator has a stronger optical limiting effect and higher coupling efficiency. The AGPs are a prospective platform that enhances light-matter interactions, reduces spread loss, and exhibits a double resonance absorption phenomenon in the studied mid-infrared wavelength range. The research results provide a basis for the design of optoelectronic devices and more.