微环谐振器

Optical Micro-Ring Resonators

光学微环谐振器自从1969年作为滤波器件被提出以后,就受到了很大的关注。光学微环谐振器,可以作为一种通用设备用于实现通信与信号处理中的所有一般功能,比如滤波、复用/解复用、调制、开关、延时、门电路、路由、传感和放大等。小尺寸的微环有优异的特性:宽带宽、高精细度。这些特性非常有利于非线性光学应用。高的精细度意味着环中高的储存能量,而且可以通过进一步减小模场面积再次提高,并且不牺牲带宽。因为利用平面工艺易于获得微环,所以其非常适合大规模集成。简单介绍了微腔的概念,具体介绍了微环谐振器,以及马里兰大学的一些主要工作,最后分析了这种技术的挑战和发展前景。

The optical micro-ring resonator, first proposed in 1969 as a simple filter, has now been demonstrated to be a versatile device capable of performing all the common functions in communications and signal processing： filtering, multiplexing/demultiplexing, modulation, switching, delay, gating, routing, sensing, amplification. The small dimensions of the rings place them in a very interesting operational parameter range： wide bandwidth yet high finesse. These properties are especially attractive for nonlinear optical applications. The high finesse means high stored intensities in the rings as in any resonator, which is further enhanced by the small model area, yet the bandwidth is not sacrificed. Small and easy to fabricate with planar technology, they are particularly suitable for large-scale integration. After a brief introduction to micro-resonators in general and micro-ring resonators in particular, I will present our work in Maryland as well as work elsewhere. The talk will conclude with a discussion on the challenges and prospects of this technology.