CAREER: Resonant Cavity Nonlinear Photodetectors for Optical Signal Processing

非线性光学器件有望在光网络中发挥越来越大的作用，用快速的光学过程取代昂贵的电子元件。非线性器件面临的一个关键挑战是，它们可能需要不切实际的高功率或长长度才能实现充分的相互作用。提出了一种利用低损耗集成波导和纳米Bragg谐振腔放大非线性相互作用的新型非线性光学探测器。潜在的非线性机制是半导体中的双光子吸收：这一过程的应用包括光自相关、时间解复用、光采样、光存储和时钟恢复。这项研究可能会导致新一代的超快非线性元件，其工作速度为数百Gb/s，在芯片上占用的空间非常小，并且需要不到100微瓦的光输入功率。这个职业奖的教育目标是在课堂和实验室中激发学生对科学的热情。对于K-12年级的学生，将进行一系列以探究为基础的动手实验，揭示光学和光电子设备在日常生活中的使用情况。对于本科生，将通过明确定义的短期暑期和学期研究项目来促进他们参与研究，这些项目特别适合本科生。在研究生阶段，PI将继续开发和更新一门独特的光通信课程，该课程将光纤物理和集成光学的严格处理与研究项目和数值模拟相结合。

Murphy0546928Nonlinear optical devices are expected to play a growing role in optical networks by replacing costly electronic components with fast optical processes. One critical challenge faced by nonlinear devices is that they can require impractically high power or long lengths to achieve a sufficient interaction. A new type of nonlinear optical detector is proposed that uses low-loss integrated waveguides and nanofabricated Bragg resonators to amplify the nonlinear interaction. The underlying nonlinear mechanism to be exploited is two-photon absorption in semiconductors: a process that has applications including optical autocorrelation, temporal demultiplexing, optical sampling, optical memory, and clock recovery. This research could lead to a new generation of ultrafast nonlinear components that operate at hundreds of Gb/s, occupy very little space on a chip, and require less than 100 microWatts of optical input power.The educational objective of this CAREER award is to imbue students with excitement for science in the classroom and the laboratory. For K-12 students, a series of inquiry-based hands-on experiments will be produced that reveal how optics and optoelectronic devices are used in everyday life. For undergraduate students, involvement in research will be promoted through well-defined short-term summer and semester research projects that are specifically suited for undergraduate students. At the graduate level, the PI will continue to develop and update a unique course in optical communications which combines a rigorous treatment of the physics of fiber and integrated optics with research projects and numerical simulation.