Research Themes

Development of an optical frequency comb using a micro optical resonator

  • Contents

If you confine the light strongly enoughNonlinear optical effectsThis phenomenon is known as the "light-induced oscillation" (LOI). When this phenomenon occurs, light of various wavelengths can be generated.Micro optical resonatorIf we properly design theGenerates light with evenly spaced comb (comb) shaped spectraThis is called an optical frequency comb. This is called an optical frequency comb.

Considering the Fourier transform relationship, it can be seen that the optical frequency comb is an optical pulse train with high repetition rate in the time domain. The high repetition rate in the time domain can be exploited to obtainhigh capacity optical communicationand ... andLiDAR(radar using lasers, which is indispensable for automatic driving) and other applications are possible in the frequency domain.wavelength division multiplexing optical communication，astronomical observationand ... andTime StandardThe light source is expected to be used as a light source for

Use of optical frequency comb with micro optical resonators
Use of optical frequency comb with micro optical resonators
  • Research Points

Even if the term "micro optical resonator" is mentioned in one word, various materials (e.g., SiN, SiO2MgF2) and various designs. It is not obvious which material to use and which design of micro optical resonator to use. The right platform for each application must be selected to design and fabricate a high-performance device. Design requires the combination of various software packages, and fabrication requires the manipulation of expensive nanofabrication equipment. Various ideas are required, including the combination of some laser processing techniques.

Optical experiments are performed while controlling various laser devices. For example, the output optical signals include high-frequency signals that are difficult to measure with electrical signals, so how to accurately measure them is another difficult point of research.

In the future, there are many issues to be solved in addition to generating optical signals, such as achieving cost performance for optical communications, robustness for onboard satellites for space applications, and wavelengths suitable for astronomical observation and sensing. Moreover, since it is known that optical combs can be used as a gear to link the electric and optical worlds, we may be able to find completely new applications that have not been considered so far by taking advantage of such properties.

Optical frequency combs are gears that link the world of electricity (GHz band) with the world of light (several hundred THz).
  • Research Projects

To fabricate micro optical resonators with unprecedented performanceultra-precision machiningThe technique is called "machining technology" (see Figure 1). To this end, we are collaborating with the Kakinuma Laboratory of the Department of System Design Engineering, which is a professional processing laboratory.

Various applications are expected, one of which isspace utilizationWe are currently conducting joint research with JAXA to expand the use of quantum cryptography and optical communications in space. In the future, we would like to install the technology on a satellite and expand it to quantum cryptography and optical communications in space.

In addition, theRealization of high-capacity optical communicationIn addition, we are participating in a project sponsored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) to develop a light source for optical integrated circuits with large capacity and low power consumption, which is required for data centers, and a project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) involving three universities, one national institute and five companies.

《 Keyword 》

Micro Optical Resonators / Optical Frequency Comb / Nonlinear Optics / High-Speed Optical Communication / National Project Space Applications / National Projects
Tanabe Laboratory actively promotes collaborative research
Research Projects & Collaborations

Research Themes

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