arXiv subjects

Andrey B. Matsko

Publications and source records attributed to Andrey B. Matsko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optical entanglement facilitated by a hot mechanical oscillator

Optomechanical generation of entangled optical beams is usually hindered by thermal noise. We present a theoretical study of low frequency entanglement generation between two optical harmonics emitted from a cavity optomechanical system operating in the resolved-sideband regime. The system comprises three nearly equidistant optical modes in a high-finesse cavity, with the central mode coherently driven. This configuration enables radiation-pressure interactions that generate strong quantum correlations between the two sideband modes. Remarkably, these correlations persist even at large numbers of thermal quanta if one properly engineers the optical cooling rate of the mechanical mode. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of robust entanglement under ambient conditions, opening new avenues for hybrid quantum technologies based on mechanical interfaces and continuous-variable quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Nonlinear and Quantum Optics with Whispering Gallery Resonators Revisited

In 2016 we published a review paper "Nonlinear and Quantum Optics with Whispering Gallery Resonators" (1). While writing this review, we found it often necessary to defer addressing many challenges of the field to the future. At the same time, many potential benefits offered by nonlinear optical resonators were also deferred to the future pending the underlying technology development. The past ten years have seen a great deal of such development, including in the field of resonator optics. We feel that an update to our 2016 review is in order. In this new review we focus on the most significant developments in the field that took place in past ten years.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

4H-SiC microring opto-mechanical oscillator with a self-injection locked pump

We have demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, self-injection locking of a distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser to a multimode 4H-silicon carbide (4H-SiC) microring resonator, and observed resonant opto-mechanical oscillation in the cavity modes. While the fundamental transverse-electric mode family of the silicon carbide microring was optically pumped, Stokes light was generated in the adjacent fundamental transverse-magnetic resonant mode. The threshold of the process did not exceed 5~mW of light entering the cavity characterized with a loaded optical quality factor of $\smash{2\times10^6}$. These results mark a significant milestone in unlocking the potential of 4H-SiC through turnkey soliton microcomb generation and empowering future advancements in areas such as cavity optomechanics using this versatile and quantum-friendly material platform.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Broadband Multidimensional Variational Measurement with Non-Symmetric Coupling

A broadband multidimensional variational measurement allows overcoming the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) of a classical mechanical force detection for a mechanical oscillator. In this measurement quantum back action, which perturbs the evolution of a mechanical oscillator, can be completely removed in a broad detection frequency band after post-processing. The measurement is performed by optical pumping of the central optical mode and analyzing the light escaping the two other optical modes, which have the frequency separation with the central mode equal to the mechanical frequency. To realize such a scheme in practice one either needs to use a very long optical interferometer or should utilize optical modes belonging to different mode families. In the second case the modes have different geometries and their coupling with the mechanical mode is not identical. Here we analyze a general case of the non-symmetric measurement scheme, in which the coupling strengths with the light modes are not equal to each other, and take into account optical losses. We found that the back action can be completely excluded from the measurement result in the case of the asymmetric lossless system. The nonzero loss limits the sensitivity. An experimental implementation of the proposed scheme is discussed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Engineered zero-dispersion microcombs using CMOS-ready photonics

Normal group velocity dispersion (GVD) microcombs offer high comb line power and high pumping efficiency compared to bright pulse microcombs. The recent demonstration of normal GVD microcombs using CMOS-foundry-produced microresonators is an important step towards scalable production. However, the chromatic dispersion of CMOS devices is large and impairs generation of broadband microcombs. Here, we report the development of a microresonator in which GVD is reduced due to a couple-ring resonator configuration. Operating in the turnkey self-injection-locking mode, the resonator is hybridly integrated with a semiconductor laser pump to produce high-power-efficiency combs spanning a bandwidth of 9.9 nm (1.22 THz) centered at 1560 nm, corresponding to 62 comb lines. Fast, linear optical sampling of the comb waveform is used to observe the rich set of near-zero GVD comb behaviors, including soliton molecules, switching waves (platicons) and their hybrids. Tuning of the 20 GHz repetition rate by electrical actuation enables servo locking to a microwave reference, which simultaneously stabilizes the comb repetition rate, offset frequency and temporal waveform. This hybridly integrated system could be used in coherent communications or for ultra-stable microwave signal generation by two-point optical frequency division.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

AtOMICS: A neural network-based Automated Optomechanical Intelligent Coupling System for testing and characterization of silicon photonics chiplets

Recent advances in silicon photonics promise to revolutionize modern technology by improving performance of everyday devices in multiple fields. However, as the industry moves into a mass fabrication phase, the problem of effective testing of integrated silicon photonics devices remains to be solved. A cost-efficient manner that reduces schedule risk needs to involve automated testing of multiple devices that share common characteristics such as input-output coupling mechanisms, but at the same time needs to be generalizable to multiple types of devices and scenarios. In this paper we present a neural network-based automated system designed for in-plane fiber-chip-fiber testing, characterization, and active alignment of silicon photonic devices that use process-design-kit library edge couplers. The presented approach combines state-of-the-art computer vision techniques with time-series analysis, in order to control a testing setup that can process multiple devices and can be easily tuned to incorporate additional hardware. The system can operate at vacuum or atmospheric pressures and maintains stability for fairly long time periods in excess of a month.

eess.IV↗

arXiv2022

Broadband Coherent Multidimensional Variational Measurement

Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) of a classical mechanical force detection results from quantum back action perturbing evolution of a mechanical system. In this paper we show that usage of a multidimensional optical transducer may enable a broadband quantum back action evading measurement. We study a corresponding technique for measurement of a resonant signal force acting on a linear mechanical oscillator coupled to an optical system with three optical modes with separation nearly equal to the mechanical frequency. The measurement is performed by optical pumping of the central optical mode and measuring the light escaping the two other modes. By detecting optimal quadrature components of the optical modes and post-processing the measurement results we are able to exclude the back action in a broad frequency band and characterize the force with sensitivity better than SQL. We discuss how proposed scheme relates to multidimensional system containing quantum-mechanics-free subsystems (QMFS) which can evade the SQL using idea of so called "negative mass".

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

All-Optical Dissipative Discrete Time Crystals

Time crystals are periodic states exhibiting spontaneous symmetry breaking in either time-independent or periodically forced quantum many-body systems. Spontaneous modification of discrete time translation symmetry in a periodically driven physical system can create a discrete time crystal (DTC). DTCs constitute a state of matter with properties such as temporal rigid long-range order and coherence which are inherently desirable for quantum computing and quantum information processing. Despite their appeal, experimental demonstrations of DTCs are scarce and hence many significant aspects of their behavior remain unexplored. Here, we report the experimental observation and theoretical investigation of photonic DTCs in a Kerr-nonlinear optical microcavity. Empowered by the simultaneous self-injection locking of two independent lasers with arbitrarily large frequency separation to two cavity modes and a dissipative soliton, this room-temperature all-optical platform enables observing novel states like DTCs carrying defects, and realizing long-awaited phenomena such as DTC phase transitions and mutual interactions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental demonstration of a dissipative DTC, as well as the concurrent self-injection locking of two continuous-wave lasers to different modes of the same family in a Kerr cavity. Combined with monolithic fabrication, it can result in chip-scale DTCs, paving the way for liberating time crystals from sophisticated laboratory setups and propelling them toward real-world applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Broadband Back Action Cancellation in a Dichromatic Variational Measurement

Quantum back action imposes fundamental sensitivity limits to the majority of quantum measurements. The effect results from the unavoidable contamination of the measured parameter with the quantum noise of a meter. Back action evading measurements take advantage of the quantum correlations introduced by the system under study to the meter and allow overcoming the fundamental limitations. The measurements are frequently restricted in their bandwidth due to a finite response time of the system components. Here we show that probing a mechanical oscillator with a dichromatic field with frequencies separated by the oscillator frequency enables independent detection and complete subtraction of the measurement noise associated with the quantum back action.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Broadband Dichromatic Variational Measurement

Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) of a classical mechanical force detection results from quantum back action impinged by the meter on a probe mechanical transducer perturbed by the force of interest. In this paper we introduce a technique of continuous \vy{broadband} back action avoiding measurements for the case of a resonant signal force acting on a linear mechanical oscillator supporting one of mirrors of an optical Michelson-Sagnac Interferometer (MSI). The interferometer with the movable mirror is an opto-mechanical transducer able to support polychromatic probe field. The method involves a dichromatic optical probe resonant with the MSI modes and having frequency separation equal to the mechanical frequency. We show that analyzing each of the harmonics of the probe reflected from the mechanical system separately and postprocessing the measurement results allows excluding the back action in a broad frequency band and measuring the force with sensitivity better than SQL.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Optimization of laser stabilization via self-injection locking to WGM microresonator

Self-injection locking is a dynamic phenomenon representing stabilization of the emission frequency of an oscillator with a passive cavity enabling frequency filtered coherent feedback to the oscillator cavity. For instance, self-injection locking of a semiconductor laser to a high-quality-factor (high-Q) whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonator can result in multiple orders of magnitude reduction of the laser linewidth. The phenomenon was broadly studied in experiments, but its detailed theoretical model allowing improving the stabilization performance does not exist. In this paper we develop such a theory. We introduce five parameters identifying efficiency of the self-injection locking in an experiment, comprising back-scattering efficiency, phase delay between the laser and the high-Q cavities, frequency detuning between the laser and the high-Q cavities, the pump coupling efficiency, the optical path length between the laser and the microresonator. Our calculations show that the laser linewidth can be improved by two orders of magnitude compared with the case of not optimal self-injection locking. We present recommendations on the experimental realization of the optimal self-injection locking regime. The theoretical model provides deeper understanding of the self-injection locking and benefits multiple practical applications of self-injection locked oscillators.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Diffraction losses of a Fabry-Perot cavity with nonidentical non-spherical mirrors

Optical cavities with both optimized resonant conditions and high quality factors are important metrological tools. In particular, they are used for laser gravitational wave (GW) detectors. It is necessary to suppress the parametric instability by damping the resonant conditions of harmful higher order optical modes (HOOM) in order to have high cavity powers in GW detectors. This can be achieved effectively by using non spherical mirrors in symmetric Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities by increasing roundtrip losses of HOOMs. Fabry-Perot cavities in most of the GW detectors have non-identical mirrors to optimize clipping losses and reduce thermal noise by reducing the beam size on one side of the cavity facing to the beam splitter and recycling cavities. We here present a general method to design non spherical non-identical mirrors in non-symmetric FP cavities to damp HOOMs. The proposed design allows to the suppress the loss of the arm power caused by point absorbers on test masses.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Quantum diffusion of microcavity solitons

Coherently-pumped (Kerr) solitons in an ideal optical microcavity are expected to undergo random quantum motion that determines fundamental performance limits in applications of soliton microcombs. Here, this diffusive motion and its impact on Kerr soliton timing jitter is studied experimentally. Typically hidden below technical noise contributions, the quantum limit is discerned by measuring counter-propagating solitons. Their relative motion features only weak interactions and also presents excellent common mode suppression of technical noise. This is in strong contrast to co-propagating solitons which are found to have relative timing jitter well below the quantum limit of a single soliton on account of strong mutual motion correlation. Good agreement is found between theory and experiment. The results establish the fundamental limits to timing jitter in soliton microcombs and provide new insights on multi-soliton physics

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Forced Oscillatory Motion of Trapped Counter-Propagating Solitons

Both the group velocity and phase velocity of two solitons can be synchronized by a Kerr-effect mediated interaction, causing what is known as soliton trapping. Trapping can occur when solitons travel through single-pass optical fibers or when circulating in optical resonators. Here, we demonstrate and theoretically explain a new manifestation of soliton trapping that occurs between counter-propagating solitons in microresonators. When counter-pumping a microresonator using slightly detuned pump frequencies and in the presence of backscattering, the group velocities of clockwise and counter-clockwise solitons undergo periodic modulation instead of being locked to a constant velocity. Upon emission from the microcavity, the solitons feature a relative oscillatory motion having an amplitude that can be larger than the soliton pulse width. This relative motion introduces a sideband fine structure into the optical spectrum of the counter-propagating solitons. Our results highlight the significance of coherent pumping in determining soliton dynamics within microresonators and add a new dimension to the physics of soliton trapping.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Quartic Kerr solitons

Solitons, ubiquitous in nonlinear sciences, are wavepackets which maintain their characteristic shape upon propagation. In optics, they have been observed and extensively studied in optical fibers. The spontaneous generation of a dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) train in an optical microresonator pumped with continuous wave (CW) coherent light has placed solitons at the heart of optical frequency comb research in recent years. The commonly observed soliton has a ``sech''-shaped envelope resulting from resonator cubic nonlinearity balanced by its quadratic anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD). Here we exploit the Lagrangian variational method to show that CW pumping of a Kerr microresonator featuring quartic GVD forms a pure quartic soliton (PQS) with Gaussian envelope. We find analytical expressions for pulse parameters in terms of experimentally relevant quantities and derive an area theorem. Predictions of the analytical calculations are validated with extensive numerical simulations. The broader bandwidth and flatter spectral envelope of a PQS, compared to a DKS of the same pulse width and peak power, make it superior for applications requiring small line-to-line power variation in frequency comb harmonics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Probing 10 μK stability and residual drifts in the cross-polarized dual-mode stabilization of single-crystal ultrahigh-Q optical resonators

The thermal stability of monolithic optical microresonators is essential for many mesoscopic photonic applications such as ultrastable laser oscillators, photonic microwave clocks, and precision navigation and sensing. Their fundamental performance is largely bounded by thermal instability. Sensitive thermal monitoring can be achieved by utilizing cross-polarized dual-mode beat frequency metrology, determined by the polarization-dependent thermorefractivity of a single-crystal microresonator, wherein the heterodyne radio-frequency beat pins down the optical mode volume temperature for precision stabilization. Here, we investigate the correlation between the dual-mode beat frequency and the resonator temperature with time and the associated spectral noise of the dual-mode beat frequency in a single-crystal ultrahigh-Q MgF2 resonator to illustrate that dual-mode frequency metrology can potentially be utilized for resonator temperature stabilization reaching the fundamental thermal noise limit in a realistic system. We show a resonator long-term temperature stability of 8.53 μK after stabilization and unveil various sources that hinder the stability from reaching sub-μK in the current system, an important step towards compact precision navigation, sensing and frequency reference architectures.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Gyroscope as quantum angular speed meter

We found that the measurement sensitivity of an optical integrating gyroscope is fundamentally limited due to ponderomotive action of the light leading to the standard quantum limit of the rotation angle detection. The uncorrelated quantum fluctuations of power of clockwise and counterclockwise electromagnetic waves result in optical power-dependent uncertainty of the angular gyroscope position. We also show that, on the other hand, a quantum back action evading measurement of angular momentum of a gyroscope becomes feasible if proper measurement strategy is selected. The angle is perturbed in this case. This observation hints on fundamental inequivalency of integrating and rate gyroscopes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Electromagnetic Continuum Induced Nonlinearity

A nonrelativistic Hamiltonian describing interaction between a mechanical degree of freedom and radiation pressure is commonly used as an ultimate tool for studying system behavior in opto-mechanics. This Hamiltonian is derived from the equation of motion of a mechanical degree of freedom and the optical wave equation with time-varying boundary conditions. We show that this approach is deficient for studying higher order nonlinear effects in an open resonant opto-mechanical system. Opto-mechanical interaction induces a large mechanical nonlinearity resulting from a strong dependence of the power of the light confined in the optical cavity on the mechanical degrees of freedom of the cavity due to coupling with electromagnetic continuum. This dissipative nonlinearity cannot be inferred from the standard Hamiltonian formalism.

physics.optics↗