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Optics Letters

Probing molecular absorption under slow-light propagation using a photonic crystal waveguide

Isabelle Dicaire, Alfredo De Rossi, Sylvain Combrié, Luc Thévenaz A

Published Nov 28, 2012• 28 citations
Publisher

Abstract

High-resolution infrared absorption spectroscopy of acetylene gas is demonstrated in a dispersion-engineered photonic crystal waveguide under slow-light propagation. Experimental enhancement factors of 0.31 and 1.00 are obtained for TE and TM polarization, respectively, for group indices ranging from 1.5 to 6.7. The dependence of molecular absorption on the evanescent electric-field distribution and on the group index under structural slow-light illumination is experimentally demonstrated and confirmed by time-domain simulations.

DOI
10.1364/ol.37.004934

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Advances in Optical Sciences Congress•Jan 1, 2009•2 citations
High-resolution infrared absorption spectroscopy of acetylene gas is demonstrated in a dispersion-engineered photonic crystal waveguide under slow-light propagation. Experimental enhancement factors of 0.31 and 1.00 are obtained for TE and TM polarization, respectively, for group indices ranging from 1.5 to 6.7. The dependence of molecular absorption on the evanescent electric-field distribution and on the group index under structural slow-light illumination is experimentally demonstrated and confirmed by time-domain simulations.
Optical frequency references are devices providing well-defined and stable optical frequency responses to incoming radiation for applications such as high-precision spectroscopy and optical fibre communications. To stabilise the emission frequency of lasers, which drifts with time mostly because of fluctuations in temperature and mechanical vibrations, atomic and molecular optical transitions can be used since they show precise and well-defined frequency responses to incoming radiation. However from a practical standpoint conventional gas cell devices cannot be easily integrated into existing optical systems because of their bulky dimensions. To replace conventional absorption cells, photonic crystal fibres filled with gas-phase material are promising devices owing to their robustness, reliability, and portable characteristics. In addition they can be directly embedded into existing optical systems and they perform well in harsh environments. In this experimental study, optical gas-phase frequency references based on photonic crystal technology are realised. The gas-sensing properties of different photonic crystal fibre samples are studied and the long-term stability and reliability of fibre gas cells are demonstrated. In addition an analytical model predicting the gas-filling time in photonic crystal fibres (PCF) is developed and can be applied to any type of fibre, fibre geometry, or length. Then fibre gas cells filled with acetylene gas, a recognised frequency reference gas-phase material, have been prepared to conduct fundamental research on slow & fast light generation in optical fibres to verify the possibilities of slow light in enhancing light-matter interaction. The group velocity of light is controlled by modifying the material and structural dispersive properties of the PCF absorption cells through stimulated Brillouin scattering and cavity ring resonators, respectively. We could demonstrate that material slow light has no impact on the molecular absorption effect whereas structural slow light has an impact on the absorption efficiency scaling linearly with the group index. Such radically different responses to slow light suggest that group velocity is not the universal physical quantity scaling light-matter interaction, and that the optical absorption of molecules is more closely related to the velocity of the electromagnetic energy. Finally the impact of slow light on the molecular absorption efficiency is also evaluated in dispersion-engineered photonic crystal waveguides. We demonstrate that in planar photonic crystal waveguides the field enhancement and its evanescent fraction have more impact on the absorption efficiency than the reduction of the group velocity of light.
We have studied the dispersion of ultrafast pulses in a photonic crystal waveguide as a function of optical frequency, in both experiment and theory. With phase-sensitive and time-resolved near-field microscopy, the light was probed inside the waveguide in a non-invasive manner. The effect of dispersion on the shape of the pulses was determined. As the optical frequency decreased, the group velocity decreased. Simultaneously, the measured pulses were broadened during propagation, due to an increase in group velocity dispersion. On top of that, the pulses exhibited a strong asymmetric distortion as the propagation distance increased. The asymmetry increased as the group velocity decreased. The asymmetry of the pulses is caused by a strong increase of higher order dispersion. As the group velocity was reduced to 0.116(9) .c, we found group velocity dispersion of -1.1(3) .10(6) ps(2)/km and third order dispersion of up to 1.1(4) .10(5) ps(3)/km. We have modelled our interferometric measurements and included the full dispersion of the photonic crystal waveguide. Our mathematical model and the experimental findings showed a good correspondence. Our findings show that if the most commonly used slow light regime in photonic crystals is to be exploited, great care has to be taken about higher-order dispersion.
We investigate the disorder-limited propagation of photons in photonic crystal waveguides in the slow-light regime. We use analysis of Fabry-Perot resonances to map the mode dispersion and extract the photon localization length. Propagation lengths are deduced to be limited to less than 20 μm for group index >50. Anderson-localized modes are observed at high group indices, when the localization lengths are shorter than the waveguide lengths, consistent with the Fabry-Perot analysis. The results have consequences for integrated quantum-dot single-photon circuits which rely on slow-light effects to enhance emission rates.
Slow light with a markedly low group velocity is a promising solution for optical buffering and advanced time-domain optical signal processing. It is also anticipated to enhance linear and nonlinear effects and so miniaturize functional photonic devices because slow light compresses optical energy in space. Photonic crystal waveguide devices generate on-chip slow light at room temperature with a wide bandwidth and low dispersion suitable for short pulse transmission. This paper first explains the delay-bandwidth product, fractional delay, and tunability as crucial criteria for buffering capacity of slow light devices. Then the paper describes experimental observations of slow light pulse, exhibiting their record high values. It also demonstrates the nonlinear enhancement based on slow light pulse transmission.
Slow light with a markedly low group velocity is a promising solution for optical buering and advanced time-domain optical signal processing.It is also anticipated to enhance linear and nonlinear eects and so miniaturize functional photonic devices because slow light compresses optical energy in space.Photonic crystal waveguide devices generate on-chip slow light at room temperature with a wide bandwidth and low dispersion suitable for short pulse transmission.This paper rst explains the delay-bandwidth product, fractional delay, and tunability as crucial criteria for buering capacity of slow light devices.Then the paper describes experimental observations of slow light pulse, exhibiting their record high values.It also demonstrates the nonlinear enhancement based on slow light pulse transmission.