Researchers at NIST and the University of Maryland have developed a microchip technology that can convert near-infrared laser light into any visible color, including red, orange, yellow, and green. The technology uses nanophotonic resonators to generate different colors from a single near-infrared pump laser, enabling a single microchip to produce a wide range of visible and infrared wavelengths.
This approach could revolutionize precision timekeeping and quantum information science by providing compact, low-cost laser systems that can be integrated with miniature optical circuits. The research contributes to NIST’s “On a Chip” program, which aims to miniaturize advanced measurement technologies for widespread use.
The key innovation is using silicon nitride, a material with a nonlinear response to light, to achieve optical parametric oscillation (OPO) on a microchip. This process converts near-infrared light into two different frequencies, one in the visible range and the other in the infrared. By fabricating microresonators with slightly different dimensions on each chip, the researchers demonstrated the ability to generate specific visible and infrared wavelengths from a single near-infrared laser source.
The study, published in Optica, represents a significant step towards creating compact, high-performance visible-light laser systems for various applications, including atomic optical clocks and quantum communication systems.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/10/what-laser-color-do-you
Keywords: Nanophotonic, Resonators, Nonlinear, Parametric, Oscillation
