ABSTRACT
The strong dispersion and large third-order nonlinearity in Si photonic wires are intimately linked in the optical physics needed for the optical control of phase. By carefully choosing the waveguide dimensions, both linear and nonlinear optical properties of Si wires can be engineered. In this paper we provide a review of the control of phase using nonlinear-optical effects such as self-phase and cross-phase modulation in dispersion-engineered Si wires. The low threshold powers for phase-changing effects in Si-wires make them potential candidates for functional nonlinear optical devices of just a few millimeters in length.
Subject(s)
Electric Wiring/instrumentation , Fiber Optic Technology/instrumentation , Optics and Photonics/instrumentation , Silicon/chemistry , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Nonlinear Dynamics , Optical DevicesABSTRACT
We observe spectral broadening of more than 350 nm, i.e., a 3/10-octave span, upon propagation of ultrashort 1.3-mum-wavelength optical pulses in a 4.7-mm-long silicon-photonic-wire waveguide. We measure the wavelength dependence of the spectral features and relate it to waveguide dispersion and input power. The spectral characteristics of the output pulses are shown to be consistent, in part, with higher-order soliton radiative effects.
