Title: Nonlinear integrated photonics
Supervisors
Principal supervisor: Kresten Yvind
Co-supervisor: Minhao Pu
Assoc. Prof. Michael Galili
Evaluation Board
Assoc. Prof. Lars Hagedorn, DTU Fotonik, Denmark
Assoc. Prof. Bart Kuyken, Ghent Universitet, Belgium
Corrado Sciancalepore, CEA LETI, France
Master of the Ceremony
Professor Leif Katsuo Oxenløwe
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the development and improvement of nonlinear integrated photonics platforms for use in high-capacity telecommunications.
The first part is about gallium nitride-on-sapphire integrated devices. The development of the platform and fabrication of the devices is described in detail and the results of both linear and nonlinear characterization is shown. Record-high (platform-specific) quality factors are demonstrated for the microring resonators as well as record high effective nonlinearity (again platform-specific) for the waveguides. The intrinsic material nonlinearity at telecom wavelengths is also extracted.
The second part concerns the aluminum gallium arsenide-on-insulator platform. A couple of specific attempts of improving the platform are described including atomic force microscopy of the sidewalls and surface passivation and the results of these efforts are presented.
Record-high data rate wavelength conversion (40 Gbit/s) using an integrated aluminum gallium arsenide-on-insulator microring resonator is also shown. The low power limit for successful conversion of a 10 Gbit/s signal is also tested.
Finally, the result of broadening of an electro-optic modulated comb in an aluminum gallium arsenide-on-insulator waveguide is shown.