Kerr-Nonlinearity Optical Parametric Oscillation in an Ultrahigh-Q Toroid Microcavity

T. J. Kippenberg, S. M. Spillane, and K. J. Vahala
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 083904 – Published 19 August 2004

Abstract

Kerr-nonlinearity induced optical parametric oscillation in a microcavity is reported for the first time. Geometrical control of toroid microcavities enables a transition from stimulated Raman to optical parametric-oscillation regimes. Optical parametric oscillation is observed at record low threshold levels (174 micro-Watts of launched power) more than 2 orders of magnitude lower than for optical-fiber-based optical parametric oscillation. In addition to their microscopic size (typically tens of microns), these oscillators are wafer based, exhibit high conversion efficiency (36%), and are operating in a highly ideal “two photon” emission regime, with near-unity (0.97±0.03) idler-to-signal ratio.

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  • Received 29 January 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.083904

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. J. Kippenberg, S. M. Spillane, and K. J. Vahala*

  • California Institute of Technology, Thomas J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Pasadena, California 91125, USA

  • *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email address: vahala@its.caltech.edu

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 8 — 20 August 2004

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