Observation of topological frequency combs

Observation of topological frequency combs

8 Apr 2024 | Christopher J. Flower, Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad, Lida Xu, Gregory Moille, Daniel G. Suarez-Forero, Oğulcan Örsel, Gaurav Bahl, Yanne Chembo, Kartik Srinivasan, Sunil Mittal, Mohammad Hafezi
Researchers have experimentally demonstrated the first topological frequency comb in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice of over 100 nonlinear ring resonators, fabricated using a commercially available silicon nitride (SiN) nanophotonic platform. The comb is generated in a topological edge band, where light is spatially confined at the lattice boundary. The unique properties of the topological edge states lead to the generation of a nested frequency comb with spectral confinement across approximately 40 longitudinal modes. The comb's nested structure is confirmed through high-resolution spectral analysis, showing each comb tooth further split into finer teeth. Spatial imaging confirms that the light generated in the comb teeth is indeed confined to the lattice edge, characteristic of linear topological systems. The results combine topological photonics and optical frequency combs, enabling the exploration of the interplay between topology and nonlinear systems in a platform compatible with commercial nanofabrication processes. The study highlights the robustness of topological edge states against imperfections and demonstrates the preservation of topology in a highly nonlinear system. The results pave the way for the development of coherent topological frequency combs and nested temporal solitons. The device design uses an array of coupled ring resonators that simulate the anomalous quantum Hall model for photons, with a square lattice of 180 site-ring resonators and 81 link-ring resonators. The system is time-reversal invariant and exhibits helical edge states. Nonlinear effects in the lattice lead to the generation of optical frequency combs through four-wave mixing. The device is a driven-dissipative system with intrinsic and extrinsic decay rates. The nonlinear dynamics are described by a modified Lugiato-Lefever formalism, predicting the formation of nested optical frequency combs. The study also shows that the topological frequency comb is robust against fabrication imperfections and maintains its topological properties even in the presence of strong nonlinearity. The results open new avenues for applications in spectroscopy, optical communication, and quantum technologies.Researchers have experimentally demonstrated the first topological frequency comb in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice of over 100 nonlinear ring resonators, fabricated using a commercially available silicon nitride (SiN) nanophotonic platform. The comb is generated in a topological edge band, where light is spatially confined at the lattice boundary. The unique properties of the topological edge states lead to the generation of a nested frequency comb with spectral confinement across approximately 40 longitudinal modes. The comb's nested structure is confirmed through high-resolution spectral analysis, showing each comb tooth further split into finer teeth. Spatial imaging confirms that the light generated in the comb teeth is indeed confined to the lattice edge, characteristic of linear topological systems. The results combine topological photonics and optical frequency combs, enabling the exploration of the interplay between topology and nonlinear systems in a platform compatible with commercial nanofabrication processes. The study highlights the robustness of topological edge states against imperfections and demonstrates the preservation of topology in a highly nonlinear system. The results pave the way for the development of coherent topological frequency combs and nested temporal solitons. The device design uses an array of coupled ring resonators that simulate the anomalous quantum Hall model for photons, with a square lattice of 180 site-ring resonators and 81 link-ring resonators. The system is time-reversal invariant and exhibits helical edge states. Nonlinear effects in the lattice lead to the generation of optical frequency combs through four-wave mixing. The device is a driven-dissipative system with intrinsic and extrinsic decay rates. The nonlinear dynamics are described by a modified Lugiato-Lefever formalism, predicting the formation of nested optical frequency combs. The study also shows that the topological frequency comb is robust against fabrication imperfections and maintains its topological properties even in the presence of strong nonlinearity. The results open new avenues for applications in spectroscopy, optical communication, and quantum technologies.
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