Brillouin lasers and amplifiers in silicon photonics

P. T. Rakich, E. Kittlaus, N. Otterstrom, R. O. Behunin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Using a new class of optomechanical waveguides that produce large Brillouin nonlinearities, we realize Brillouin lasers, Brillouin amplifiers, and Brillouin-based signal processing technologies in silicon photonics. Counterintuitively, the same nanophotonic silicon waveguides that greatly enhance both Kerr and Raman nonlinearities exhibit vanishingly small Brillouin nonlinearities. Only with the advent of new optomechanical waveguides-that guide both light and sound-have Brillouin interactions been transformed into the strongest and most tailorable nonlinearities in silicon. We summarize progress in the rapidly growing field of integrated Brillouin photonics, and explain how a variety of simulated lightscattering processes can be engineered to (1) create Brillouin-based optical amplifiers, (2) tailor optical susceptibility, and (3) create new signal processing technologies in silicon photonics. Finally, we harness Brillouin-based opticalamplification to create the first silicon-based Brillouin lasers and we discuss their performance characteristics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIntegrated Optics
Subtitle of host publicationDevices, Materials, and Technologies XXII
EditorsSonia M. Garcia-Blanco, Pavel Cheben
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510615557
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
EventIntegrated Optics: Devices, Materials, and Technologies XXII 2018 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Jan 29 2018Feb 1 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10535
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceIntegrated Optics: Devices, Materials, and Technologies XXII 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period1/29/182/1/18

Keywords

  • Integrated photonics
  • Laser
  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Optomechanical
  • Silicon Photonics
  • Stimulated Brillouin scattering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Brillouin lasers and amplifiers in silicon photonics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this