Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have made a significant advancement in the control of photonic integrated circuits, specifically microring resonators (MRRs). These MRRs are crucial components in photonic integrated circuits, which are used in various applications, including data communication and sensing.
The team, led by Professor Chang-Ling Zou, has demonstrated a novel method to dynamically reconfigure the optical path topology in MRRs using acoustic waves. This breakthrough was published in the journal Nature Communications.
In their study, the researchers used a lithium niobate on sapphire platform to launch gigahertz acoustic waves into a hybrid phononic-photonic waveguide. This created a dynamic Bragg mirror (DBM) within the optical path, which couples forward and backward propagating light. By employing a pair of coupled MRRs, they achieved strong coupling between supermodes of the photonic molecule with only milliwatt-level drive power, yielding a cooperativity of 2.46 per milliwatt.
At higher power levels, the DBM reflectivity reached up to 24%, revealing limitations in both the photonic molecule picture and perturbative coupled mode theory. This indicates a transformation towards a Möbius strip topology, suggesting a new regime of operation for these devices.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector could be significant. For instance, the ability to dynamically reconfigure photonic circuits could lead to more efficient and adaptable optical communication systems, which are essential for smart grid technologies and renewable energy integration. Additionally, the enhanced control over optical paths could improve sensing capabilities, enabling better monitoring and management of energy infrastructure.
This work establishes a new dimension for controlling photonic devices, opening pathways toward fully reconfigurable photonic circuits through acoustic drive. The researchers believe that this advancement could pave the way for more sophisticated and efficient photonic integrated circuits, benefiting various industries, including energy.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.