Broadband Optical Combs in Thin Film Lithium Niobate

The primary objective of the Phase 1 effort is to perform a feasibility study and develop capabilities required for demonstrating chip-scale broadband optical frequency comb (OFC) generating devices using non-linear electro-optic effects in thin film lithium niobate (TFLN). The research effort will aim to generate OFCs with a bandwidth of more than 5 nm between 1540 and 1560 nm and a variable spacing between 1 and 10 GHz. Various system architectures will be investigated using mathematical models, and two system approaches will be considered. A “passive” approach consisting of cascaded phase and amplitude TFLN modulators will be investigated, and an “active” approach consisting of heterogenous integration of TFLN with III-V gain media will also be investigated. The proposers will leverage the team’s unique capabilities in theoretical modeling and experimental demonstrations of optical frequency combs in combination with device expertise in low half-wave voltage TFLN modulators to demonstrate optimal device architectures for broadband comb generation culminating with a design for a system on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).