NIST researchers have developed advanced integrated photonics technology for quantum sensing and information applications. The team has created ultralow loss (~dB/m) integrated photonics devices using tantalum pentoxide and silicon nitride materials, enabling nonlinear conversion and complex photonic circuits. These devices can generate microresonator frequency combs, modelocked laser supercontinuum, and passive laser beam control across the visible and near-infrared spectrum.
The research focuses on wafer-scale fabrication of these devices at NIST’s Boulder microfabrication facility, utilizing semiconductor processing techniques. The team has demonstrated efficient supercontinuum generation in nonlinear tantala waveguides using a 1560 nm femtosecond seed laser, creating spectra spanning up to 1.6 octaves. Fabricated devices feature propagation losses as low as 10 dB/m and can be dispersion engineered for specific applications.
This technology has potential applications in precision timing, quantum science, biological imaging, and remote sensing. The research is focused on making these advanced integrated photonics devices widely available through compatibility with large-scale semiconductor foundries.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/precision-metrology-integrated-photonics
Keywords: Nonlinear, Nanophotonics, Supercontinuum, Frequency Combs, Integrated Photonics
