CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

Physics and Applications of Microresonator Solitons and Electro-optic Frequency Combs

Citation

Yi, Xu (2017) Physics and Applications of Microresonator Solitons and Electro-optic Frequency Combs. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/Z9FT8J22. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05232017-161027761

Abstract

Frequency combs are having a broad impact on science and technology because they provide a way to coherently link radio/microwave-rate electrical signals with optical-rate signals derived from lasers and atomic transitions. A new, miniature realization, the microcomb, that uses chip-based microresonators can potentially revolutionize instrumentation, time keeping, spectroscopy, and navigation. Microcombs were first demonstrated using a form of cascaded four-wave mixing. However, the recent discovery of dissipative soliton microcombs enables phase-locked spectra with reproducible envelopes, as required in many frequency comb applications. In addition, these solitons are confined in a high-Q microresonator, thereby creating a rich landscape for research in nonlinear optical phenomena. In this thesis, these solitons are demonstrated for the first time in a silica microcavity. Significantly, the device provides a microwave-detectable soliton repetition rate, which is essential to many comb applications. The unusual properties of the solitons are studied from a theoretical viewpoint using a Lagrangian formalism and predictions of the theory are confirmed experimentally. In the course of this work, a new optical soliton, the Stokes soliton, was also discovered. In addition to soliton mode locking, another novel and compact platform, the electro-optical modulation frequency comb, was studied. This type of frequency comb was used to demonstrate a novel electro-optic form of frequency division for stable microwave synthesis. It was also modified to perform astronomical calibration for exoplanet detection at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:optical microresonator, frequency comb, solitons, microcomb.
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Applied Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Vahala, Kerry J.
Thesis Committee:
  • Painter, Oskar J. (chair)
  • Faraon, Andrei
  • Beichman, Charles
  • Vahala, Kerry J.
Defense Date:23 May 2017
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05232017-161027761
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05232017-161027761
DOI:10.7907/Z9FT8J22
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.2.001078DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 3.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.41.002037DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 3.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.41.003419DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 4.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys3875DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.3.001132DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14869DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 7.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1252909DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10436DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 10.
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Yi, Xu0000-0002-2485-1104
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:10196
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Xu Yi
Deposited On:31 May 2017 21:13
Last Modified:04 Oct 2019 00:16

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

10MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page