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From Classical to Quantum Nonlinear Photonic Mixers on Silicon Microchips (Project Report 1201308-Y4)

Shayan Mookherjee

Published Jul 9, 2021• 0 citations
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Abstract

The main goal of this NSF-funded project [1201308 - Year 4] is to develop an integrated photonics devices based on silicon photonics which can be used for compact and efficient nonlinear classical and quantum photonics. We demonstrated tunable photon-pair generation at room temperature from a high-Q Si microring resonator and coupled-resonator optical waveguide devices.

DOI
10.31219/osf.io/5k9gb

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The main goal of this NSF-funded project [1201308 - Year 4] is to develop an integrated photonics devices based on silicon photonics which can be used for compact and efficient nonlinear classical and quantum photonics. We demonstrated tunable photon-pair generation at room temperature from a high-Q Si microring resonator and coupled-resonator optical waveguide devices.
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Photon-pair generation at telecommunication wavelengths using high-quality silicon microring resonators is an active area of research. Here, we report on significant progress towards the ultimate goal of an integrated silicon microchip for bright generation of photon pairs with multiple stages of tunable optical filtering on the same chip. A high pair generation brightness of 6.5×1010 pairs/s/mW2/nm is achieved. The resonance of the high-Q silicon microring resonator can be monitored using a high dynamic range readout of a photocurrent in an all-silicon p-i-n diode fabricated across the waveguide cross-section, which is used to align the ring resonance to the passbands or stopbands of the filters.
The objective of this project was to make significant advances in quantum optical communications through the design, fabrication and demonstration of novel devices at the microchip scale. The principal goal of the device sub-project was to develop key building blocks for photonic microchips that are energy-efficient, leverages modern micro-fabrication platforms, reduces operational complexity and improve scalability with the potential for future adoption by industry. Summary of a Project Outcomes report of research funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Project Number 1640968 (Year 5).
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