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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Bypassing dynamic reciprocity via a chiral cross-Kerr nonlinearity

Keyu Xia, Franco Nori, Min Xiao

Published Jan 1, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The optical Kerr nonlinearity can't be used to achieve on-chip optical nonreciprocity because of dynamic reciprocity. Here, we propose a chiral cross-Kerr nonlinearity to bypass dynamic reciprocity and to achieve all-optical nonreciprocity on a chip.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_qels.2022.ftu1a.3

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Nonreciprocal optical devices play a pivotal role in modern optical systems and advanced quantum technologies. Nonreciprocal devices based on optical nonlinearity have garnered significant attention due to their compatibility with on-chip photonics fabrication techniques. However, when the opposite-propagating continuous waves are incident to such nonlinear nonreciprocal devices simultaneously, achieving dynamic nonreciprocity has remained a formidable challenge. In addition, the devices relying on nonlinear resonators suffer from limited bandwidths. In this paper, we theoretically propose a method for achieving an on-chip isolator and quasicirculator by employing a nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Harnessing the chirality between self- and cross-Kerr nonlinearities in the nonlinear arm of the interferometer, our device achieves remarkable dynamic nonreciprocity. We obtain an isolation contrast of $\ensuremath{\geqslant}0.9$ for the optical isolator and fidelity of $\ensuremath{\geqslant}0.97$ for the optical quasicirculator, and a broad bandwidth of 20nm20\phantom{\rule{3.33333pt}{0ex}}\text{nm}20nm for both. Our protocol paves a way to realize a broadband on-chip nonlinear nonreciprocal device.
We propose an all-optical approach to achieve optical nonreciprocity on a chip by quantum squeezing one of two coupled resonator modes. By parametric pumping a χ^{(2)}-nonlinear resonator unidirectionally with a classical coherent field, we squeeze the resonator mode in a selective direction due to the phase-matching condition, and induce a chiral photon interaction between two resonators. Based on this chiral interresonator coupling, we achieve an all-optical diode and a three-port quasicirculator. By applying a second squeezed-vacuum field to the squeezed resonator mode, our nonreciprocal device also works for single-photon pulses. We obtain an isolation ratio of >40 dB for the diode and fidelity of >98% for the quasicirculator, and insertion loss of <1 dB for both. We also show that nonreciprocal transmission of strong light can be switched on and off by a relative weak pump light. This achievement implies a nonreciprocal optical transistor. Our protocol opens up a new route to achieve integrable all-optical nonreciprocal devices permitting chip-compatible optical isolation and nonreciporcal quantum information processing.
Optical nonlinearity has been widely used to try to produce optical isolators. However, this is very difficult to achieve due to dynamical reciprocity. Here, we show the use of the chiral cross-Kerr nonlinearity of atoms at room temperature to realize optical isolation, circumventing dynamical reciprocity. In our approach, the chiral cross-Kerr nonlinearity is induced by the thermal motion of N-type atoms. The resulting cross phase shift and absorption of a weak probe field are dependent on its propagation direction. This proposed optical isolator can achieve more than 30 dB of isolation ratio, with a low loss of less than 1 dB. By inserting this atomic medium in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, we further propose a four-port optical circulator with a fidelity larger than 0.9 and an average insertion loss less than 1.6 dB. Using atomic vapor embedded in an on-chip waveguide, our method may provide chip-compatible optical isolation at the single-photon level of a probe field.
Magnetic-free optical isolators are critical components for the realization of integrated optical systems. The underlying physics of passive nonlinear optical isolators is not solely about breaking the Lorentz reciprocity without requiring any external bias. Indeed, one major obstacle to the operation of self-Kerr-type nonlinear optical isolators is the so-called dynamic reciprocity, of which a serious outcome is that a backward signal cannot be isolated in the presence of a forward strong signal. In this work, we advocate the concept of velocity-selective nonlinearity to bypass such dynamic reciprocity. Using a proof-of-principle platform with warm rubidium atoms in an asymmetric cavity, we experimentally achieve the isolation of a backward signal in the presence of a strong forward signal, with experimental observations in agreement with our theoretical simulations. This work has thus made one essential step towards functioning Kerr-type passive optical isolators.