Photonic signal frequency conversion using a photonic band gap structure

• US 6,304,366 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Scalora, Michael, Bloemer, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US09/382,690
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 359/328, 372/22, 372/21
• US Class Current: 359/328
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3534 Three-wave interaction, e.g. sum-difference frequency generation G02F1/3532 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/355 characterised by the materials used
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/37 for second-harmonic generation G02F1/3532 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/39 for parametric generation or amplification of light, infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/30 using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects

Abstract

A novel SH generator based on a photonic band gap (PBG), mixed half-quarter-wave, periodic structure is described. Both energy output and conversion efficiencies are nearly three orders of magnitude greater than for bulk, phase-matched devices of comparable lengths. Similar results for a GaAs/AlAs semiconductor periodic structure are also found. These results have immediate applications in frequency up- and down-conversion lasers, higher and lower harmonic generation, and Raman-type lasers, where either Stokes or anti-Stokes resonances can be enhanced or suppressed near the band edge. In general, the underlying mechanism requires the fields to be strongly confined, allowing for longer interaction times, increased effective gain lengths, and enhanced conversion efficiencies, although strong pump confinement alone can also result in significantly enhanced SH generation.

Claims

1. A device for generating a photonic signal having a frequency different from an input photonic signal incident on the device, the input photonic signal having an input photonic signal frequency and an input photonic signal bandwidth, comprising:

a plurality of first material layers; and

a plurality of second material layers,

said first and second material layers arranged such that the device exhibits a photonic band gap structure, wherein said photonic band gap structure exhibits a transmission band edge corresponding to the input photonic signal frequency, and wherein an interaction of the input photonic signal with said arrangement of layers generates a second photonic signal at a second frequency, said second frequency being different than the first frequency.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second material layers are arranged in a periodically alternating manner such that the arrangement formed therefrom exhibits said photonic band gap structure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first material layer has a first index of refraction and said second material layer has a second index of refraction, said first index of refraction and said second index of refraction being different.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first material layer has a first thickness and said second material layer has a second thickness, said first thickness and said second thickness being different.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said photonic band gap structure also exhibits a second transmission resonance at a second order band gap, and wherein said second frequency is tuned to said second transmission resonance.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said second photonic signal is reflected within the device and exits the device at a surface where the input photonic signal is incident.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the input photonic signal is a continuous wave input photonic signal generated by a continuous wave laser source.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said arrangement of layers forms a mixed-quarter-half-wave structure, and said second frequency is a second harmonic of the input photonic signal frequency.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said arrangement of layers forms a quarter-wave structure.

10. The device according to claim 1. wherein said first and second material layers respectively comprise GaAs and AlAs semiconductor layers, said first and second layers being formed on a semiconductor substrate.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a length of the device is between approximately 5 and 1000 micrometers.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein a third photonic signal is generated as a result of a frequency mixing process due to an interaction of the input photonic signal and said second photonic signal with said arrangement of layers.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second layers are arranged in a periodically alternating manner, said arrangement forming a first region, further comprising:

a second region having periodically alternating material layers, wherein said second region comprises

a third material layer, and

a fourth material layer; and

a periodicity defect region interposed between said first and second regions of periodically alternating material layers, wherein an arrangement of said first region, said second region, and said periodicity region exhibits a photonic band gap structure having a transmission band edge corresponding to the input photonic signal frequency, and wherein an interaction of the input photonic signal with said arrangement of said first region, said second region, and said periodicity region generates a second photonic signal at a second frequency, said second frequency being different than the first frequency.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first and second regions are each arranged as quarter-wave structures, and wherein a thickness of said periodicity defect region is approximately ½

wavelength of the input photonic signal.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said second frequency is a third harmonic of the input photonic frequency.

16. A method for optical frequency conversion of an input photonic signal, the input photonic signal having an input photonic signal frequency and an input pihotonic signal bandwith. comprising the steps of:

selecting the frequency of the input photonic signal so as to produce a second signal at a desired harmonic frequency;

providing a device comprising

a plurality of first material layers; and

a plurality of second material layers,

said first and second material layers arranged such that said device exhibits a photonic band gap structure, wherein said photonic band gap structure exhibits a transmission band edge corresponding to the input photonic signal frequency, and wherein an interaction of the input photonic signal with said arrangement of layers generates a second photonic signal at a second frequency, said second frequency being different than the first frequency; and

inputting the input photonic signal into said device to generate said second signal at said harmonic frequency.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting the materials used in said device such that said first material layer has a first index of refraction and said second material layer has a second index of refraction, wherein said first index of refraction is greater than said second index of refraction, and wherein a difference in said first index of refraction and said second index of refraction corresponds to a desired harmonic frequency of the input photonic signal.

18. The method of claim 16. further comprising:

arranging said first and second material layers in an alternating manner; and

selecting a number of periods for said alternating first and second layers to provide a desired conversion efficiency.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selecting a number of periods for said alternating first and second layers such that a width of said band edge is greater than the input photonic signal bandwidth.

20. The method of claim 18. further comprising:

selecting said materials arranged in said alternating manner, such that an absorption in said materials at the input photonic signal frequency and said harmonic frequency is at a minimum.