Devices and methods for giant single-photon nonlinearities

Abstract

A periodically poled microring resonator structure, a method for fabrication of the periodically poled microring resonator structure, and a method to achieve giant single-photon nonlinearity are disclosed. The strong single-photon nonlinearity in the microring resonator structure is achieved through its optimized design and fabrication procedures.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An optical non-linear photonic device, comprising:
 a microring resonator made from a material having optical non-linear properties, said microring resonator including a plurality of cavity modes configured to excite quasi-transverse magnetic cavity modes of pump light; and   an optimized pulley-coupler configured to transmit light to and receive light from said microring resonator.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is a quantum frequency converter. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is lithium niobate. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said material comprises gallium phosphide and/or gallium arsenide. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said microring resonator has a crystalline orientation adapted for modification via periodic inversion through exertion of a periodic electric field across said material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said microring resonator is adapted to exploit a non-linear effect of said material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said non-linear effect is selected from the group consisting of: second-harmonic generation, difference-frequency generation, optical parametric amplification and optical parametric oscillation. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said optimized pulley-coupler further comprises a bus waveguide. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said bus waveguide has a tapered or inversed tapered coupler design. 
     
     
         10 . A method for making a microring resonator, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an optical non-linear wafer;   fabricating a circular poling pattern on said wafer;   forming a plurality of nanostructures on said wafer such that said plurality of nanostructures is communicatively coupled to said circular poling pattern; and   forming a microring resonator on said wafer such that said microring resonator is communicatively coupled to said plurality of nanostructures and to said circular poling pattern.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of nanostructures includes a waveguide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said waveguide comprises a bus waveguide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of nanostructures comprises a pulley-coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said wafer comprises lithium niobate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said wafer comprises gallium phosphide and/or gallium arsenide. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microring resonator is adapted to exploit a non-linear effect of said wafer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said non-linear effect is selected from the group consisting of: second-harmonic generation, difference-frequency generation, optical parametric amplification and optical parametric oscillation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of depositing a cladding layer over said microring resonator or said wafer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of cleaving and polishing said wafer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said circular poling pattern is formed via electron-beam lithography, and wherein said plurality of nanostructures is formed through application of a periodical poling process to said wafer. 
     
     
         21 . An optical non-linear photonic chip, comprising
 a base wafer made from an optical non-linear material;   a pump light source etched on said base wafer;   a waveguide etched on said base wafer and configured to receive pump light from said pump light source;   a microring resonator formed in said base wafer and having a plurality of cavities, said microring resonator configured to excite quasi-transverse magnetic cavity modes of pump light; and   a pulley-coupler configured to couple-in and couple-out pump light received from said microring resonator.   
     
     
         22 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said chip is configured to operate as a quantum frequency converter. 
     
     
         23 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said material comprises lithium niobate. 
     
     
         24 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said material comprises gallium phosphide and/or gallium arsenide. 
     
     
         25 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said microring resonator has a crystalline orientation adapted for modification via periodic inversion through exertion of a periodic electric field across said material. 
     
     
         26 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said microring resonator is adapted to exploit a non-linear effect of said material. 
     
     
         27 . The chip of  claim 26 , wherein said non-linear effect is selected from the group consisting of: second-harmonic generation, difference-frequency generation, optical parametric amplification and optical parametric oscillation. 
     
     
         28 . The chip of  claim 21 , wherein said pulley-coupler further comprises a bus waveguide. 
     
     
         29 . The chip of  claim 28 , wherein said bus waveguide has a tapered or inversed tapered coupler design. 
     
     
         30 . The chip of  claim 29 , wherein said bus waveguide is configured to be coupled to said pump light source so as to receive pump light therefrom.