GOALI: Nanostructure-enabled Quasi-Phase-Matched Counter-Propagating Optical Parametric Oscillator

非技术描述：非线性光学器件在广泛的光学系统中起着至关重要的作用，可以实现信号放大、波长/频率转换以及光的全光控制或调制。这些设备具有广泛的应用范围，包括通信、医学成像、遥感和量子信息系统。实现非线性光学器件的一种常用方法是通过准相位匹配（QPM）或周期极化。该方法需要对非线性光学材料（极化）的光学特性进行精确、小规模的修改，以显着提高其效率，并彻底改变了非线性光学领域。该项目的目标是开发新的方法来可重复地在QPM非线性光学器件中制造更小的极化域，从而极大地扩大这些器件的应用范围。较小的极化域将使波长转换装置能够在不同的光学波长下工作，从而大大扩大通信或医学成像应用中的工作波长范围。这种装置将有助于探测波长较长的非常微弱的光信号，并提高遥感或量子信息系统的性能。这项工作将与工业合作伙伴AdvR公司合作，在与工业学术联络的资助机会（GOALI）计划的框架下进行。这种学术-工业合作伙伴关系将利用双方的能力和资源来实现项目目标。相关的教育和推广工作将促进学生参与蒙大拿州学徒计划，这些学生来自代表性不足的少数群体。此外，GOALI合作将允许学生在学术界和工业界进行强有力的研究互动。技术描述：PI建议开发纳米级制造方法，这将导致下一代非线性光学器件。使用周期极化的光波导通过提供显着更高的效率和实现器件光学特性的工程，彻底改变了非线性光学。铌酸锂材料（LN），特别是掺杂氧化镁（MgO:LN），由于其较强的非线性特性，具有较高的效率和功率处理能力而被广泛应用。该项目的基本目标是实现亚微米级MgO:LN的轮询和结构的工艺开发。具有纳米级畴的周期性极化非线性光波导将以更高的效率和对工作波长的更好控制（例如在红外中操作）促进参数波长转换。一旦建立了纳米级极化畴和控制MgO:LN结构特征的方法，将继续进行进一步的研究，以提高这些器件的非线性性能，如色散工程和波长选择谐振腔。提出的工作将实现无反光镜光学参量振荡器（OPO），该振荡器将实现具有相对短的相互作用长度和工作波长显著灵活性的高效非线性光学过程。这种opo将大大拓宽非线性光学器件的应用范围。

Abstract ECCS-1710128Title: GOALI Nanoscale Fabrication of Nonlinear Optical Devices Non-technical description: Nonlinear optical devices play a critical role in a wide range of optical systems, enabling signal amplification, wavelength/frequency conversion, and all-optical control or modulation of light. These devices have an immense range of applications, including communications, medical imaging, remote sensing and quantum information systems. One common approach to implement nonlinear optical devices is through quasi-phase-matching (QPM) or periodic poling. This method entails precise, small-scale modifications in the optical properties of nonlinear optical materials (poling) in order to dramatically improve their efficiency, and has revolutionized the field of nonlinear optics. The goal of this project is to develop new methods to reproducibly fabricate smaller poling domains in QPM nonlinear optical devices, potentially greatly enlarging the range of applications for these devices. Smaller poling domains would enable wavelength conversion devices capable of working with at different optical wavelengths, greatly enlarging the operating wavelength range in communications or medical imaging applications. Such devices would facilitate the detection of very weak optical signals at longer wavelengths and enhance the performance of remote sensing or quantum information systems. This work will be performed in collaboration with an industrial partner, AdvR Inc., under the framework of the Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) program. This academic-industrial partnership will leverage the capabilities and resources of both partners to achieve the project goals. The associated education and outreach efforts will promote student participation, from underrepresented minority groups, in the Montana Apprenticeship Program. In addition, the GOALI collaboration will allow students to have strong research interactions in both academia and industry.Technical description: The PI proposes to develop nanoscale fabrication methods that will lead to the next generation of nonlinear optical devices. Optical waveguides using periodic poling have revolutionized nonlinear optics by providing significantly higher efficiency and enabling engineering of the optical properties of devices. Lithium niobate material (LN), especially doped with magnesium oxide (MgO:LN), has been frequently used due to its relatively strong nonlinear properties that lead to higher efficiency and power- handling capability. The basic goal of this project the process development to enable sub-micron scale poling and structuring of MgO:LN. Periodically poled nonlinear optical waveguides with nanoscale domains would facilitate parametric wavelength conversion with higher efficiency and with greater control over the operating wavelengths (e.g. operation in the infrared). Once the methods to produce nanoscale poling domains and to control structural features in MgO:LN have been established, further investigations to enhance the nonlinear performance of these devices will be pursued, such as dispersion engineering and wavelength-selective resonant cavities. The proposed work will enable the realization of a mirrorless optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that would enable high-efficiency nonlinear optical processes with relatively short interaction lengths and significant flexibility in operating wavelengths. Such OPOs would significantly broadened range of applications for nonlinear optical devices.