Abstract

This dissertation reviews the advancements made in chip-scale optical frequency combs and their applications towards optical communications and optical to RF links. We review different chip-scale comb sources and in particular, chip-scale Kerr microresonator frequency combs. Then, we establish the theoretical background in nonlinear optics which allows the formation and stabilization of Kerr solitons in nonlinear cavities. We also discuss the concept of optical injection locking and in particular, multi-tone injection locking which precedes the idea of regenerative harmonic injection locking. We then go on to show the experimental work involved in soliton generation and characterization. We show efforts towards developing an on-chip massive electronic-photonic optical communications link using Kerr soliton frequency combs as equidistant optical carriers in a DWDM based system using a PAM-4 data modulation format. Potential methods for pushing the limits of communication speeds are also highlighted involving the implementation of other degrees of multiplexing such as space division multiplexing and polarization multiplexing. The second application we explore is based on the synchronization of two pulsed sources via regenerative harmonic injection locking, one with a repetition rate in the microwave regime (10s of GHz) and the other in the mm wave domain (100s of GHz). The two sources we use here are an InP based mode locked laser PIC and the Kerr microresonator. Future goals are discussed which involve techniques for the improvement in long-term stability and chip-scale integrability. This proposal envisions future work to achieve high-capacity optical communication links and optical to RF links utilizing chip-scale Kerr microresonator frequency combs.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2023

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Delfyett, Peter

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

Optics and Photonics

Degree Program

Optics and Photonics

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0009599; DP0027623

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0027623

Language

English

Release Date

May 2023

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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