在这项研究中，研究人员成功演示了基于纳米光子铌酸锂与III-V半导体光放大器混合集成的电泵主动锁模激光器（MLL）。该MLL能够以约10 GHz的重复频率产生约为1065 nm的4.8 ps光脉冲，能量超过2.6 pJ，峰值功率更是超过0.5 W。同时，通过使用驱动频率和泵浦电流，可以在宽范围内精确控制输出的重复频率以及载波包络偏移频率，为片上频率梳的实现提供了一条完全稳定的途径。
据悉，锁模激光器（MLLs）所产生的超短脉冲的峰值功率远远超出其平均功率。然而，要想驱动超快纳米光子电路，集成MLLs的实现仍然是一个难题。这是因为它们通常具有较低的峰值功率，缺乏可控性，并且在与纳米光子平台进行集成时面临诸多挑战。
附：英文原文
Title: Ultrafast mode-locked laser in nanophotonic lithium niobate
Author: Qiushi Guo, Benjamin K. Gutierrez, Ryoto Sekine, Robert M. Gray, James A. Williams, Luis Ledezma, Luis Costa, Arkadev Roy, Selina Zhou, Mingchen Liu, Alireza Marandi
Issue&Volume: 2023-11-10
Abstract: Mode-locked lasers (MLLs) generate ultrashort pulses with peak powers substantially exceeding their average powers. However, integrated MLLs that drive ultrafast nanophotonic circuits have remained elusive because of their typically low peak powers, lack of controllability, and challenges when integrating with nanophotonic platforms. In this work, we demonstrate an electrically pumped actively MLL in nanophotonic lithium niobate based on its hybrid integration with a III-V semiconductor optical amplifier. Our MLL generates 4.8-ps optical pulses around 1065 nm at a repetition rate of ～10 GHz, with energies exceeding 2.6 pJ and peak powers beyond 0.5 W. The repetition rate and the carrier-envelope offset frequency of the output can be controlled in a wide range by using the driving frequency and the pump current, providing a route for fully stabilized on-chip frequency combs.
DOI: adj5438
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj5438