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 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!
New publication on Dissipative Kerr Solitons in a III-V microresonator
Our paper, in collaboration with Prof. John Bowers' group from University of California at Santa Barbara, shows the generation of a Dissipative Kerr Soliton (DKS) in a III-V platform, namely AlGaAs-on-insulator, thanks to the quenching of the thermo-refractive effect at cryogenic temperaure.
CLEO talks
The Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) is virtual this year: https://www.cleoconference.org/. Our lab members are giving a number of talks - please have a look at the list below (all times are PDT):
New review article on hybrid integrated quantum photonic circuits
We have contributed to a new review article on hybrid integrated quantum photonic circuits: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-020-0609-x
This review details efforts within the integrated photonics community to combine dissimilar materials and photonic chips, in order to realize complementary functionalities that are hard to achieve in an optimal way within a single material system. Some of our work on heterogeneous integration and quantum frequency conversion are highlighted within the article.
New results on microwave-to-optical transducers using piezo-optomechanics
Two results on microwave-to-optical transduction using piezo-optomechanical devices have recently been published:
Visible-telecom optical parametric oscillator on a chip
Our Optica paper (http://www.osapublishing.org/optica/abstract.cfm?URI=optica-6-12-1535) on a novel optical parametric oscillator has been highlighted by the OSA: https://www.osa.org/en-us/about_osa/newsroom/news_releases/2019/on-chip_light_source_produces_versatile_range_of_w/.
Tunable quantum interference of single photons using nonlinear nanophotonics
In Physical Review Applied, we report on using nonlinear nanophotonics to realize the tunable quantum interference of single photons (https://journals.aps.org/prapplied/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.12.054054). The two non-degenerate (different in color) photons that comprise a photon-pair source created on one nanophotonic chip are made identical through quantum frequency conversion realized through a second nanophotonic chip. The photons are then interfered to show that they have been m
Srinivasan Joins JQI
JQI has named four new Fellows in 2019, bringing the total number to 35. All four of the new arrivals have appointments in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland. One Fellow is also a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMD and another is a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Kartik Srinivasan, who was appointed as a JQI Fellow in February, received his doctoral degree in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology.
New results on microresonator frequency combs
Three recent papers on microresonator frequency combs have been published: