Nanophotonic Lithium Niobate-Based, Ultrafast, Chip-Scale Mode-Locked Laser. Credit: Alireza Marandi
A team of researchers has successfully developed a small, integrated mode-locked laser on a nanophotonic platform, capable of emitting high-power, ultrafast pulses of light. This advancement in shrinking mode-locked laser (MLL) technology promises to greatly broaden the scope of photonics applications.
Advances in Mode-Locked Laser (MLL) Technology
In an effort to refine technology that traditionally relies on large, bench-top equipment, Quishi Guo and his team have condensed a mode-locked laser to the dimensions of an optical chip within a nanophotonic platform. This achievement offers potential in creating ultrafast nanophotonic systems for various uses.
The Prospects of Compact MLLs
Mode-locked lasers are known for generating coherent, ultrashort light pulses at incredibly rapid speeds, measured in picoseconds and femtoseconds. These lasers have been instrumental in driving several photonic technologies, including extreme nonlinear optics, two-photon microscopy, and optical computing.
Typically, MLLs are costly, energy-intensive, and depend on large, separate optical components and machinery. Consequently, their application has been mostly confined to lab-based, tabletop experiments. Moreover, existing integrated MLLs intended for nanophotonic platforms face significant challenges, such as low peak power and limited control capabilities.
A Leap Forward in Nanophotonic MLL Integration
By combining a semiconductor optical amplifier chip with an innovative lithium niobate thin-film nanophotonic circuit, Guo and his team have produced a compact integrated MLL.
According to the research team, this MLL generates ultrashort optical pulses of about 4.8 picoseconds at approximately 1065 nanometers, achieving a peak power near 0.5 Watts. This represents the highest output pulse energy and peak power among all integrated MLLs within nanophotonic platforms.
Furthermore, the team demonstrated that the repetition rate of the integrated MLL is adjustable over a range of about 200 megahertz. They also showed that the laser’s coherence properties can be finely tuned, paving the way for a fully stabilized on-chip nanophotonic frequency comb source.
For additional information on this breakthrough:
Miniaturization of Ultrafast Laser Technology on Photonic Microchips
Reduction of Ultrafast Lasers to the Size of a Fingertip
Reference: “Ultrafast mode-locked laser in nanophotonic lithium niobate” by Qiushi Guo, Benjamin K. Gutierrez, Ryoto Sekine, Robert M. Gray, James A. Williams, Luis Ledezma, Luis Costa, Arkadev Roy, Selina Zhou, Mingchen Liu, and Alireza Marandi, 9 November 2023, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adj5438
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nanophotonic Mode-Locked Laser
What is the recent breakthrough in photonics technology?
Researchers have developed a compact, integrated mode-locked laser on a nanophotonic platform, capable of emitting high-power, ultrafast light pulses. This advancement in miniaturizing mode-locked laser technology could significantly expand the applications of photonics.
How does the new mode-locked laser differ from traditional ones?
Unlike traditional mode-locked lasers that are bulky, costly, and energy-intensive, this new laser is miniaturized to the size of an optical chip. It offers high output pulse energy and peak power, and its coherence properties can be precisely controlled.
What are the potential applications of the miniaturized mode-locked laser?
This miniaturized laser can be used in a variety of photonic technologies such as extreme nonlinear optics, two-photon microscopy, and optical computing. Its compact size and high performance make it suitable for advanced, lab-based photonics research and potentially for commercial applications in the future.
Who led the research for this technological advancement?
The research was led by Quishi Guo and his team, who focused on integrating a semiconductor optical amplifier chip with a lithium niobate thin-film nanophotonic circuit to create this compact mode-locked laser.
What are the key features of this new mode-locked laser?
The laser generates ultrashort optical pulses (~4.8 picoseconds) at around 1065 nanometers with a peak power of ~0.5 Watts. It is the most powerful in terms of output pulse energy and peak power among integrated mode-locked lasers in nanophotonic platforms. Additionally, its repetition rate can be tuned over a ~200 megahertz range.
More about Nanophotonic Mode-Locked Laser
- Mode-Locked Lasers in Nanophotonics
- Advancements in Photonic Technology
- Compact Mode-Locked Laser Systems
- Nanophotonic Platforms Research
- Ultrafast Laser Technology Applications
- Lithium Niobate in Optics
6 comments
I’m a bit skeptical, getting such high power from a tiny chip seems too good to be true. but if it’s real, it’s a game changer for sure.
i’m excited to see where this tech goes, imagine the possibilities in medical devices and other fields!
wow, this is really cool stuff. never thought they could make lasers so small!
Great read but, could use more details on how these lasers actually work?
isnt lithium niobate like, used in mobile phones too? tech is crazy these days
the article mentions Qiushi Guo but no info on where he’s from or which institution? would be nice to know