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Second-order optical nonlinearity is widely used for both classical and quantum photonic applications. Due to material dispersion and phase matching requirements, the polarization of optical fields is pre-defined during the fabrication. Only one type of phase matching condition is normally satisfied, and this limits the device flexibility. Here, we demonstrate that phase matching for both type-I and type-II second-order optical nonlinearity can be realized simultaneously in the same waveguide fabricated from thin-film lithium niobate. This is achieved by engineering the geometry dispersion to compensate for the material dispersion and birefringence. The simultaneous realization of both phase matching conditions is verified by the polarization dependence of second-harmonic generation. Correlated photons are also generated through parametric down conversion from the same device. This work provides a novel approach to realize versatile photonic functions with flexible devices.
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Visible nonlinear photonics via high-order-mode dispersion engineering
Over the past decade, remarkable advances have been realized in chip-based nonlinear photonic devices for classical and quantum applications in the near- and mid-infrared regimes. However, few demonstrations have been realized in the visible and near-visible regimes, primarily due to the large normal material group-velocity dispersion (GVD) that makes it challenging to phase match third-order parametric processes. In this paper, we show that exploiting dispersion engineering of higher-order waveguide modes provides waveguide dispersion that allows for small or anomalous GVD in the visible and near-visible regimes and phase matching of four-wave mixing processes. We illustrate the power of this concept by demonstrating in silicon nitride microresonators a near-visible mode-locked Kerr frequency comb and a narrowband photon-pair source compatible with Rb transitions. These realizations extend applications of nonlinear photonics towards the visible and near-visible regimes for applications in time and frequency metrology, spectral calibration, quantum information, and biomedical applications.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1641094
- PAR ID:
- 10132121
- Publisher / Repository:
- Optical Society of America
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Optica
- Volume:
- 7
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 2334-2536
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: Article No. 135
- Size(s):
- Article No. 135
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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