On-chip electro-optic frequency shifters and beam splitters

Yaowen Hu, Mengjie Yu, Di Zhu, Neil Sinclair, Amirhassan Shams-Ansari, Linbo Shao, Jeffrey Holzgrafe, Eric Puma, Mian Zhang and Marko Lončar ()
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Yaowen Hu: Harvard University
Mengjie Yu: Harvard University
Di Zhu: Harvard University
Neil Sinclair: Harvard University
Amirhassan Shams-Ansari: Harvard University
Linbo Shao: Harvard University
Jeffrey Holzgrafe: Harvard University
Eric Puma: Harvard University
Mian Zhang: HyperLight Corporation
Marko Lončar: Harvard University

Nature, 2021, vol. 599, issue 7886, 587-593

Abstract: Abstract Efficient frequency shifting and beam splitting are important for a wide range of applications, including atomic physics1,2, microwave photonics3–6, optical communication7,8 and photonic quantum computing9–14. However, realizing gigahertz-scale frequency shifts with high efficiency, low loss and tunability—in particular using a miniature and scalable device—is challenging because it requires efficient and controllable nonlinear processes. Existing approaches based on acousto-optics6,15–17, all-optical wave mixing10,13,18–22 and electro-optics23–27 are either limited to low efficiencies or frequencies, or are bulky. Furthermore, most approaches are not bi-directional, which renders them unsuitable for frequency beam splitters. Here we demonstrate electro-optic frequency shifters that are controlled using only continuous and single-tone microwaves. This is accomplished by engineering the density of states of, and coupling between, optical modes in ultralow-loss waveguides and resonators in lithium niobate nanophotonics28. Our devices, consisting of two coupled ring-resonators, provide frequency shifts as high as 28 gigahertz with an on-chip conversion efficiency of approximately 90 per cent. Importantly, the devices can be reconfigured as tunable frequency-domain beam splitters. We also demonstrate a non-blocking and efficient swap of information between two frequency channels with one of the devices. Finally, we propose and demonstrate a scheme for cascaded frequency shifting that allows shifts of 119.2 gigahertz using a 29.8 gigahertz continuous and single-tone microwave signal. Our devices could become building blocks for future high-speed and large-scale classical information processors7,29 as well as emerging frequency-domain photonic quantum computers9,11,14.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03999-x

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