Photonic device having higher order harmonic emissions

• US 7,515,617 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Carmon, Tal Eliezer, Vahala, Kerry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Armando
• Application Number:
  US11/560,319
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 372/21, 372/22, 372/92, 372/94
• US Class Current: 372/21
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/354 Third or higher harmonic generation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/15 involving resonance effects, e.g. resonantly enhanced interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0627 the resonator being monolithic, e.g. microlaser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/083 Ring lasers fibre ring lasers H01S3/06791
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/094042 of a fibre laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/30 using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects

Abstract

A photonic device is disclosed which has higher order harmonic emissions. A pump source is adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency and to have a power output of less than approximately 100 Watts. A micro-cavity resonator, which is adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry, is optically coupled to the pump source to receive light from the laser beam. The micro-cavity resonator emits light at an emission frequency while light is received from the laser beam, where the emission frequency is approximately three or more times the source frequency.

Claims

1. A photonic device comprising:

a pump source adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency, the pump source having a power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

a micro-cavity resonator adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry and optically coupled to the pump source to receive light from the laser beam, wherein light is emitted from the micro-cavity resonator at an emission frequency while light is received from the laser beam, the emission frequency being approximately three or more times the source frequency.

2. The photonic device of claim 1, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

3. The photonic device of claim 1, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

4. The photonic device of claim 1, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

5. The photonic device of claim 1 further including a waveguide optically coupling the pump source to the micro-cavity resonator.

6. The photonic device of claim 5, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

7. The photonic device of claim 1, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

8. The photonic device of claim 7, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

9. A photonic device comprising:

a pump source adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency, the pump source having a power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

a micro-cavity resonator adapted to suppress second order harmonic emissions and optically coupled to the pump source to receive light from the laser beam, wherein light is emitted from the micro-cavity resonator at an emission frequency while light is received from the laser beam, the emission frequency being approximately three or more times the source frequency.

10. The photonic device of claim 9, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which suppresses second order harmonic emissions.

11. The photonic device of claim 9, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

12. The photonic device of claim 9, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed with a geometrical form which suppresses second order harmonic emissions.

13. The photonic device of claim 9, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

14. The photonic device of claim 9 further including a waveguide optically coupling the pump source to the micro-cavity resonator.

15. The photonic device of claim 14, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

16. The photonic device of claim 9, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

17. The photonic device of claim 16, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

18. A photonic device comprising:

a first pump source adapted to emit a first laser beam at a first source frequency, the first pump source having a first power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

a second pump source adapted to emit a second laser beam at a second source frequency, the second pump source having a second power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

a micro-cavity resonator adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry and optically coupled to both the first pump source and the second pump source to receive light from the first laser beam and the second laser beam, respectively, wherein light is emitted from the micro-cavity resonator having at least one of a first emission frequency and a second emission frequency while light is received from at least one of the laser beams, the first emission frequency being approximately three or more times the first source frequency, and the second emission frequency being approximately three or more times the second source frequency.

19. The photonic device of claim 18, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

20. The photonic device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first pump source and the second pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

21. The photonic device of claim 18, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

22. The photonic device of claim 18 further including a waveguide optically coupling the first pump source to the micro-cavity resonator.

23. The photonic device of claim 22, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

24. The photonic device of claim 18, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

25. The photonic device of claim 24, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

26. The photonic device of claim 18, wherein the first source frequency is different from the second source frequency.

27. A photonic device comprising:

a first pump source adapted to emit a first laser beam at a first source frequency, the first pump source having a first power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

a second pump source adapted to emit a second laser beam at a second source frequency, the second pump source having a second power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

a micro-cavity resonator adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry and optically coupled to both the first pump source and the second pump source to receive light from the first laser beam and the second laser beam, respectively, wherein light is emitted from the micro-cavity resonator at an emission frequency while light is received from the first and second pump sources, the emission frequency being approximately a third order summation of a combination of the first source frequency and the second source frequency.

28. The photonic device of claim 27, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

29. The photonic device of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first pump source and the second pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

30. The photonic device of claim 27, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

31. The photonic device of claim 27 further including a waveguide optically coupling the first pump source to the micro-cavity resonator.

32. The photonic device of claim 31, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

33. The photonic device of claim 27, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

34. The photonic device of claim 33, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

35. The photonic device of claim 27, wherein the first source frequency is different from the second source frequency.

36. A photonic device comprising:

a micro-cavity resonator adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry;

a pump source optically coupled to the micro-cavity resonator on a first side of the micro-cavity resonator and adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency, such light from the laser beam is directed from the pump source into the micro-cavity resonator; and

a signal receiver optically coupled to the micro-cavity resonator on a second side of the micro-cavity resonator to receive light at an emission frequency emitted from the micro-cavity resonator, wherein the emission frequency is approximately three or more times the source frequency and the second side is different from the first side.

37. The photonic device of claim 36, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

38. The photonic device of claim 36, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

39. The photonic device of claim 36, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

40. The photonic device of claim 36 further including a waveguide optically coupling the pump source to the micro-cavity resonator.

41. The photonic device of claim 40, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

42. The photonic device of claim 36, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

43. The photonic device of claim 42, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

44. A method of generating higher order harmonic emissions from a photonic device, the method comprising:

optically coupling a micro-cavity resonator to a pump source, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry, and the pump source is adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency and to have a power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

directing light from the laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, thereby generating from the micro-cavity resonator light at an emission frequency which is approximately three or more times the source frequency.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source include optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source using a waveguide.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

52. A method of generating higher order harmonic emissions from a photonic device, the method comprising:

optically coupling a micro-cavity resonator to a pump source, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is adapted to suppress second order harmonic emissions, and the pump source is adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency and to have a power output of less than approximately 100 Watts; and

directing light from the laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, thereby generating from the micro-cavity resonator light at an emission frequency which is approximately three or more times the source frequency.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which suppresses second order harmonic emissions.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed with a geometrical form which suppresses second order harmonic emissions.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source includes optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source using a waveguide.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

61. A method of generating higher order harmonic emissions from a photonic device, the method comprising:

optically coupling a micro-cavity resonator to a first pump source, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry, and the first pump source is adapted to emit a first laser beam at a first source frequency and to have a first power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to a second pump source, wherein the second pump source is adapted to emit a second laser beam at a second source frequency and to have a second power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

directing light from the first laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, thereby generating from the micro-cavity resonator light at a first emission frequency which is approximately three or more times the first source frequency; and

directing light from the second laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, thereby generating from the micro-cavity resonator light at a second emission frequency which is approximately three or more times the second source frequency.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of the first pump source and the second pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the first pump source includes optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the first pump source using a waveguide.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the first source frequency is different from the second source frequency.

70. A method of generating higher order harmonic emissions from a photonic device, the method comprising:

optically coupling a micro-cavity resonator to a first pump source, wherein micro-cavity resonator is adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry, and the first pump source is adapted to emit a first laser beam at a first source frequency and to have a first power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to a second pump source, wherein the second pump source is adapted to emit a second laser beam at a second source frequency and to have a second power output of less than approximately 100 Watts;

directing light from the first laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator; and

directing light from the second laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, wherein the micro-cavity resonator generates light at an emission frequency which is approximately a third order summation of a combination of the first source frequency and the second source frequency.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein at least one of the first pump source and the second pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the first pump source includes optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the first pump source using a waveguide.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

76. The method of claim 70, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.

78. The method of claim 70, wherein the first source frequency is different from the second source frequency.

79. A method of generating higher order harmonic emissions from a photonic device, the method comprising:

optically coupling a pump source to a first side of a micro-cavity resonator, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is adapted to exhibit inversion symmetry, and the pump source is adapted to emit a laser beam at a source frequency;

directing light from the laser beam into the micro-cavity resonator, thereby generating from the micro-cavity resonator light at an emission frequency which is approximately three or more times the source frequency; and

receiving light emitted from the micro-cavity resonator with a signal receiver optically coupled to a second side of the micro-cavity resonator, wherein the second side is different from the first side.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the micro-cavity resonator is constructed of a material which exhibits inversion symmetry.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the pump source has a power output of less than 1 Watt.

82. The method of claim 79, wherein the micro-cavity resonator has a Q value in excess of 10⁵.

83. The method of claim 79, wherein optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source include optically coupling the micro-cavity resonator to the pump source using a waveguide.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the waveguide comprises a fiber waveguide.

85. The method of claim 79, wherein micro-cavity resonator is monolithic.

86. The method of claim 79, wherein micro-cavity resonator comprises a silica toroid supported by a silicon substrate.