Conversion efficiency in Kerr-microresonator optical parametric oscillators: From three modes to many modes

Published

February 14, 2022

Author(s)

Jordan Stone, Gregory Moille, Xiyuan Lu, Kartik Srinivasan

Abstract

We study optical parametric oscillations in Kerr-nonlinear microresonators, revealing an intricate solution space -- parameterized by the pump-to-sideband conversion efficiency -- that arises from an interplay of nonlinear processes. Using a three-wave approximation, we derive an efficiency-maximizing relation between pump power and frequency mismatch. To move beyond a three-wave approximation, a necessity for geometries such as integrated microring resonators, we numerically simulate the Lugiato-Lefever Equation that accounts for the full spectrum of nonlinearly-coupled resonator modes. We observe and characterize two nonlinear phenomena linked to parametric oscillations in multi-mode resonators: Mode competition and cross phase modulation-induced modulation instability. Both processes may impact conversion efficiency. Finally, we show how to increase the conversion efficiency by tuning the microresonator loss rates. Our analysis provides guidance on how the resonator dispersion and balance of intrinsic and coupling losses should be engineered to realize high conversion efficiency at a targeted pump power.

Citation

Optica

Volume

17

Issue

2

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.17.024038

Local Download

Keywords

photonics, microresonator, nonlinear optics

Citation

Stone, J. , Moille, G. , Lu, X. and Srinivasan, K. (2022), Conversion efficiency in Kerr-microresonator optical parametric oscillators: From three modes to many modes, Optica, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.17.024038, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=933014 (Accessed April 25, 2024)