Cavity optomechanical device
We are interested in the physics and engineering of nanophotonic devices in the context of quantum information science, metrology, communications, and sensing. We use nanofabrication technology to develop engineered geometries that strongly enhance light-matter interactions, such as parametric nonlinear optical processes, coupling to quantum emitters, and acousto-optic effects. We study the basic device-level physics and tailor devices for specific applications, and our research generally involves computational modeling, nanofabrication, and optoelectronic and quantum photonic characterization. Recent topics have included quantum frequency conversion, single-photon and entangled-photon generation, microresonator frequency combs, optical parametric oscillators, and cavity electro-optomechanical transducers.
More generally, nanophotonic systems offer us the ability to study interesting physics in a controllable way, using platforms that are inherently suitable for the development of new technologies. Our labs are at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, and the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland in College Park.
New article on integrated photonics interposers
Our research on integrated photonics interposers for microcomb-based systems has been published in Light: Science & Applications.
New article on mode hybridization in nonlinear optics
Our research on hybridization of circular and rectangular mode profiles in nanophotonics has been published in Optics Letters.
This work describes how rectangular cross-section waveguides that one might expect to only support modes with rectangular spatial profiles can in fact also support modes with circular spatial profiles, and how such modes can be useful for nonlinear optical processes like third-harmonic generation.
New proposal for efficient and low-noise quantum frequency conversion
We have recently published a new approach for realizing quantum frequency conversion across the very large spectral gap between the visible and telecommunications wavelength bands.
This work, led by Xiyuan Lu, is in Optics Letters, and describes how third-order sum and difference frequency generation in microresonators can be a compelling approach for quantum frequency conversion.
New method for 3D printing of micro-optics on photonic chip facets
We describe a new approach to 3D printing of micro-optical elements on the facets of photonic chips in Optics Express.
This work, led by Edgar Perez, shows how we can use machine vision techniques to automatically locate input/output ports on photonic chip facets and directly print micro-lenses on them to aid in fiber optic coupling to and from the chip.
Enhanced Frequency Doubling Adds to Photonics Toolkit
The digital age has seen electronics, including computer chips, shrink in size at an amazing rate, with ever tinier chips powering devices like smartphones, laptops and even autonomous drones. In the wake of this progress, another miniature technology has been gaining steam: integrated photonics. Photons, which are the quantum particles of light, have some advantages over electrons, the namesakes of electronics. For some applications, photons offer faster and more accurate information transfer and use less power than electrons. And because on-chip photonics are largely built using the same technology created for the electronics industry, they carry the promise of integrating electronics and photonics on the same chip.
New publication on improved coupled-mode theory for high-index-contrast photonics
We are happy to announce that new research on an improved coupled-mode theory for high-index-contrast photonic platforms has been published on Physical Review A.
New publication on efficient photoinduced second-harmonic generation in silicon nitride photonics
Xiyuan's latest research on second harmonic generation (SHG) in silicon nitride ring resonators has been published in Nature Photonics.
New publication on optical parametric oscilation in the visible!
We have recently published our new research, conducted by Xiyuan, on the development of microresonator optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) in which a near-infrared pump laser creates any one of a set of distinct colors.
New publication on frequency engineering tool for microcavity nonlinear optics
Xiyuan recently published his newest results on frequency engineering of microring resonators through inner sidewall modulation of the resonator.
This approach enables selectively frequency splitting of several resonances that can be arbitrary selected. Such research opens the door to further engineering of frequency/phase matching for ultra-efficient non-linear processes such as four-wave mixing. Have a look at his paper in the latest issue of Photonics Research!