Chip-scale optical parametric oscillators

目的：我们建议研究光学参量振荡器（OPO）激光源的3 μ m至12 μ m波段制作为单片芯片上的半导体波导使用标准的光刻工具。具体来说，我们提出了一种OPO，（1）是作为一个单片，光刻定义的波导与整体布拉格反射器;（2）采用形式的双折射结构的相位匹配;和（3）有一个三重谐振腔。所有这三个元素的组合是必要的，以创建廉价和高效的OPO sources.Intellectual优点：据我们所知，相位匹配形式的双折射波导尚未被利用在谐振纳米腔中创建OPO。据我们所知，三谐振OPO腔还没有实现，甚至双谐振器件也是最近才出现的。因此，所提出的研究在本质上是变革性的，因为它将推进对以下方面的基本理解：（1）多谐振形式双折射波导腔中的参数振荡，（2）可能适合于大规模制造这种腔的材料和工艺，导致片上中红外OPO激光源，以及（3）谐振腔中非线性相互作用的数值建模，更广泛的影响：所提出的紧凑和廉价的片上中红外光源的发展将导致光谱仪器的进步，并应用于环境科学，污染监测，化学威胁检测和其他领域。该项目还将在研究生和本科生科学和工程人力资源的教育、推广和开发方面发挥重要作用。

Objective: We propose to study Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) laser sources for the 3 um to 12 um band fabricated as monolithic on-chip nanowaveguides using standard lithographic tools. Specifically, we propose an OPO that (1) is implemented as a monolithic, lithographically defined waveguide with integral Bragg reflectors;(2) employs form birefringent structures for phase matching; and (3) has a triply resonant cavity. The combination of all three of these elements is necessary to create inexpensive and efficient OPO sources.Intellectual Merit: To the best of our knowledge, phase-matched form birefringent waveguides have not yet been exploited in resonant nanocavities to create OPOs. Triply resonant OPO cavities also, to the best of our knowledge, have not been realized, and even doubly-resonant devices are relatively recent. Therefore the proposed research is transformative in nature as it will advance the fundamental understanding of (1) parametric oscillation in multiply-resonant form-birefringent waveguide cavities, (2) materials and processes that may be suitable for mass fabrication of such cavities, leading to on-chip mid-infrared OPO laser sources, and (3) numerical modeling of nonlinear interaction in resonant cavities, and numerical optimization methods relating to the design of multiply-resonant structures.Broader impact: The development of the proposed compact and inexpensive on-chip mid-infrared source will lead to advances in spectroscopic instrumentation, with applications to environmental science, pollution monitoring, chemical threat detection and other areas. The project will also play a significant role in the education, outreach and development of human resources in science and engineering at the graduate and undergraduate levels.