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M. M. Fejer

Publications and source records attributed to M. M. Fejer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Network Topology of Hafnia-Based Amorphous Optical Coatings by Grazing-Incidence X-ray Total Scattering and Atomic Modeling

Amorphous hafnia-based films are promising optical-coating materials for cryogenic GW detectors, but their performance depends on how doping and annealing modify the atomic network. We combine grazing-incidence X-ray total scattering measurements with experimentally constrained atomic modeling to study the as-deposited HfO$_2$ and 27% SiO$_2$-doped HfO$_2$ films annealed at 150$^\circ$C and 400$^\circ$C. Pure amorphous HfO$_2$ is a dense, high-coordination network of Hf-centered polyhedra with substantial edge- and face-sharing connectivity. Incorporating SiO$_2$ introduces stable SiO$_4$ tetrahedra, lowers the Hf and O coordination, and replaces highly connected Hf-rich oxygen environments with mixed Si--O--Hf bridges. This produces a chemically mixed network rather than isolated SiO$_2$-rich regions, and shifts the cation topology toward corner-sharing connectivity. Annealing to 400$^\circ$C produces only modest additional structural relaxation. These results provide an atomic-scale description of how SiO$_2$ modifies the topology of amorphous HfO$_2$-based coatings and suggest structural descriptors relevant to understanding their mechanical-loss behavior.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Intrinsic Defects in Amorphous Optical Coatings of TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$ for Gravitational-wave Detectors

The increased laser power of future gravitational-wave detectors will require mirror coatings with optical absorption below 0.1 ppm per mirror. TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$, currently the best high-index material for reducing room-temperature coating thermal noise, still exhibits ppm-level absorption even after extrinsic contamination is minimized. Using ab-initio simulations and absorption measurements, we identify oxygen-deficient Ti-rich environments as the origin of this residual absorption. We find that ordinary structural disorder in the amorphous network can localize electronic states but does not produce defects capable of absorbing 1064-nm light. In contrast, oxygen vacancies in compact Ti-rich environments create localized Ti$^{3+}$--Ti$^{3+}$-like polaron-pair or mixed Ti-polaron states states with transitions near 1064 nm. Photothermal measurements show increased absorption after dry/inert annealing, supporting the formation of these reduction-sensitive defects. These results show that the residual absorption is not an intrinsic limitation of TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$, but a process-dependent defect that may be mitigated through control of oxygen stoichiometry during deposition and annealing.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Atomic Structure of Amorphous Optical Coatings of TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$ by Grazing-Incidence Total X-ray Scattering Measurements

Reducing coating thermal noise in future gravitational-wave detectors requires identifying the atomic motifs that control mechanical loss in amorphous optical coatings. We combine grazing-incidence X-ray pair distribution function measurements with atomic-structure modeling to study amorphous TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$ films over Ti cation concentrations from $\sim$11 % to $\sim$48 %, before and after annealing. The structural analysis reveals systematic composition- and annealing-dependent changes in short- and intermediate-range order. Increasing Ti content raises the average Ti coordination and promotes edge- and face-sharing polyhedral connections, while Ge remains predominantly fourfold coordinated. Annealing reduces these compact shared-polyhedron motifs and sharpens the first sharp diffraction peak, indicating a more relaxed intermediate-range network. Among the structural descriptors examined, the clearest correlation with the annealing-induced reduction in mechanical loss is the decrease in edge- and face-sharing polyhedra. These results connect composition, annealing, atomic structure, and mechanical dissipation in TiO$_2$-doped GeO$_2$, providing microscopic guidance for optimizing low-noise mirror coatings.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Low thermal noise mirror coatings utilising titanium dioxide and germanium dioxide mixtures

Upgrades to ground-based gravitational-wave observatories will require mirror coatings with reduced thermal noise, enabling improved detector sensitivity and extended astrophysical reach. Recent studies have shown that optical coatings utilising amorphous materials that exhibit a larger fraction of corner-sharing between adjacent structural units of metal-centered polyhedra are a promising route for reducing mechanical dissipation and thus thermal noise at room temperature. We report on multilayer optical coatings that are fabricated using germanium dioxide mixed with titanium dioxide (TiO$_2$:GeO$_2$) for the high index layers, and silicon dioxide (SiO$_2$) for the low index material. Single layers of TiO$_2$:GeO$_2$ are characterised to optimise the mixture proportion and based on that highly reflective multilayer stacks were deposited. Exceptional optical absorption at 1064 nm below 1 part-per-million (ppm) is observed in the multilayer stacks after heat treatment. The annealing process also induces the formation of blisters which leads to increased optical scattering. However, there is indication that blisters can be suppressed by decreasing the water partial pressure in the deposition chamber. Direct thermal noise measurements provide experimental verification of a significant 25\% reduction of thermal noise over the mirrors currently employed, which combined with sub-ppm levels of optical absorption show the potential of TiO$_2$:GeO$_2$ to improve the sensitivity of gravitational-wave observatories.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2024

Ultrafast second-order nonlinear photonics -- from classical physics to non-Gaussian quantum dynamics

Photonic integrated circuits with second-order ($\chi^{(2)}$) nonlinearities are rapidly scaling to remarkably low powers. At this time, state-of-the-art devices achieve saturated nonlinear interactions with thousands of photons when driven by continuous-wave lasers, and further reductions in these energy requirements enabled by the use of ultrafast pulses may soon push nonlinear optics into the realm of single-photon nonlinearities. This tutorial reviews these recent developments in ultrafast nonlinear photonics, discusses design strategies for realizing few-photon nonlinear interactions, and presents a unified treatment of ultrafast quantum nonlinear optics using a framework that smoothly interpolates from classical behaviors to the few-photon scale. These emerging platforms for quantum optics fundamentally differ from typical realizations in cavity quantum electrodynamics due to the large number of coupled optical modes. Classically, multimode behaviors have been well studied in nonlinear optics, with famous examples including soliton formation and supercontinuum generation. In contrast, multimode quantum systems exhibit a far greater variety of behaviors, and yet closed-form solutions are even sparser than their classical counterparts. In developing a framework for ultrafast quantum optics, we will identify what behaviors carry over from classical to quantum devices, what intuition must be abandoned, and what new opportunities exist at the intersection of ultrafast and quantum nonlinear optics. While this article focuses on establishing connections between the classical and quantum behaviors of devices with $\chi^{(2)}$ nonlinearities, the frameworks developed here are general and are readily extended to the description of dynamical processes based on third-order ($\chi^{(3)}$) nonlinearities.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2023

Mesoscopic ultrafast nonlinear optics -- The emergence of multimode quantum non-Gaussian physics

Over the last few decades, nonlinear optics has become significantly more nonlinear, traversing nearly a billionfold improvement in energy efficiency, with ultrafast nonlinear nanophotonics in particular emerging as a frontier for combining both spatial and temporal engineering. At present, cutting-edge experiments in nonlinear nanophotonics place us just above the mesoscopic regime, where a few hundred photons suffice to trigger nonlinear saturation. In contrast to classical or deep-quantum optics, the mesoscale is characterized by dynamical interactions between mean-field, Gaussian, and non-Gaussian quantum features, all within a close hierarchy of scales. When combined with the inherent multimode complexity of optical fields, such hybrid quantum-classical dynamics present theoretical, experimental, and engineering challenges to the contemporary framework of quantum optics. In this review, we highlight the unique physics that emerges in multimode nonlinear optics at the mesoscale and outline key principles for exploiting both classical and quantum features to engineer novel functionalities. We briefly survey the experimental landscape and draw attention to outstanding technical challenges in materials, dispersion engineering, and device design for accessing mesoscopic operation. Finally, we speculate on how these capabilities might usher in some new paradigms in quantum photonics, from quantum-augmented information processing to nonclassical-light-driven dynamics and phenomena to all-optical non-Gaussian measurement and sensing. The physics unlocked at the mesoscale present significant challenges and opportunities in theory and experiment alike, and this review is intended to serve as a guidepost as we begin to navigate this new frontier in ultrafast quantum nonlinear optics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2023

Quantum noise dynamics in nonlinear pulse propagation

The propagation of ultrafast pulses in dispersion-engineered waveguides, exhibiting strong field confinement in both space and time, is a promising avenue towards single-photon nonlinearities in an all-optical platform. However, quantum engineering in such systems requires new numerical tools and physical insights to harness their complicated multimode and nonlinear quantum dynamics. In this work, we use a self-consistent, multimode Gaussian-state model to capture the nonlinear dynamics of broadband quantum fluctuations and correlations, including entanglement. Notably, despite its parametrization by Gaussian states, our model exhibits nonlinear dynamics in both the mean field and the quantum correlations, giving it a marked advantage over conventional linearized treatments of quantum noise, especially for systems exhibiting gain saturation and strong nonlinearities. Numerically, our approach takes the form of a Gaussian split-step Fourier (GSSF) method, naturally generalizing highly efficient SSF methods used in classical ultrafast nonlinear optics; the equations for GSSF evaluate in $O(M^2\log M)$ time for an $M$-mode system with $O(M^2)$ quantum correlations. To demonstrate the broad applicability of GSSF, we numerically study quantum noise dynamics and multimode entanglement in several ultrafast systems, from canonical soliton propagation in third-order ($χ^{(3)}$) waveguides to saturated $χ^{(2)}$ broadband parametric generation and supercontinuum generation, e.g., as recently demonstrated in thin-film lithium niobate nanophotonics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2022

Degenerate optical parametric amplification in CMOS silicon

Silicon is a common material for photonics due to its favorable optical properties in the telecom and mid-wave IR bands, as well as compatibility with a wide range of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) foundry processes. Crystalline inversion symmetry precludes silicon from natively exhibiting second-order nonlinear optical processes. In this work, we build on recent work in silicon photonics that break this material symmetry using large bias fields, thereby enabling $χ^{(2)}$ interactions. Using this approach, we demonstrate both second-harmonic generation (with a normalized efficiency of $0.2\,\%\,\mathrm{W^{-1} cm^{-2}}$) and, to our knowledge, the first degenerate $χ^{(2)}$ optical parametric amplifier (with relative gain of $0.02\,\mathrm{dB}$ using $3\,\mathrm{mW}$ of pump power on-chip at a pump wavelength of $1196\,\mathrm{nm}$) using silicon-on-insulator waveguides fabricated in a CMOS-compatible commercial foundry. We expect this technology to enable the integration of novel nonlinear optical devices such as optical parametric amplifiers, oscillators, and frequency converters into large-scale, hybrid photonic-electronic systems by leveraging the extensive ecosystem of CMOS fabrication.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2022

Spectrally separable photon-pair generation in dispersion engineered thin-film lithium niobate

Existing nonlinear-optic implementations of pure, unfiltered heralded single-photon sources do not offer the scalability required for densely integrated quantum networks. Additionally, lithium niobate has hitherto been unsuitable for such use due to its material dispersion. We engineer the dispersion and the quasi-phasematching conditions of a waveguide in the rapidly emerging thin-film lithium niobate platform to generate spectrally separable photon pairs in the telecommunications band. Such photon pairs can be used as spectrally pure heralded single-photon sources in quantum networks. We estimate a heralded-state spectral purity of ${>}94\%$ based on joint spectral intensity measurements. Further, a joint spectral phase-sensitive measurement of the unheralded time-integrated second-order correlation function yields a heralded-state purity of $(86 \pm 5)\%$.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2021

Onset of non-Gaussian quantum physics in pulsed squeezing with mesoscopic fields

We study the emergence of non-Gaussian quantum features in pulsed squeezed light generation with a mesoscopic number (i.e., dozens to hundreds) of pump photons. Due to the strong optical nonlinearities necessarily involved in this regime, squeezing occurs alongside significant pump depletion, compromising the predictions made by conventional semiclassical models for squeezing. Furthermore, nonlinear interactions among multiple frequency modes render the system dynamics exponentially intractable in naïve quantum models, requiring a more sophisticated modeling framework. To this end, we construct a nonlinear Gaussian approximation to the squeezing dynamics, defining a "Gaussian interaction frame" (GIF) in which non-Gaussian quantum dynamics can be isolated and concisely described using a few dominant (i.e., principal) supermodes. Numerical simulations of our model reveal non-Gaussian distortions of squeezing in the mesoscopic regime, largely associated with signal-pump entanglement. We argue that the state of the art in nonlinear nanophotonics is quickly approaching this regime, providing an all-optical platform for experimental studies of the semiclassical-to-quantum transition in a rich paradigm of coherent, multimode nonlinear dynamics. Mesoscopic pulsed squeezing thus provides an intriguing case study of the rapid rise in dynamic complexity associated with semiclassical-to-quantum crossover, which we view as a correlate of the emergence of new information-processing capacities in the quantum regime.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2021

Dispersion-engineered $χ^{(2)}$ nanophotonics: a flexible tool for nonclassical light

This article reviews recent progress in quasi-phasematched $χ^{(2)}$ nonlinear nanophotonics, with a particular focus on dispersion-engineered nonlinear interactions. Throughout this article, we establish design rules for the bandwidth and interaction lengths of various nonlinear processes, and provide examples for how these processes can be engineered in nanophotonic devices. In particular, we apply these rules towards the design of sources of non-classical light and show that dispersion-engineered devices can outperform their conventional counterparts. Examples include ultra-broadband optical parametric amplification as a resource for measurement-based quantum computation, dispersion-engineered spontaneous parametric downconversion as a source of separable biphotons, and synchronously pumped nonlinear resonators as a potential route towards single-photon nonlinearities.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2021

Mid-infrared nonlinear optics in thin-film lithium niobate on sapphire

Periodically poled thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) waveguides have emerged as a leading platform for highly efficient frequency conversion in the near-infrared. However, the commonly used silica bottom-cladding results in high absorption loss at wavelengths beyond 2.5 $μ$m. In this work, we demonstrate efficient frequency conversion in a TFLN-on-sapphire platform, which features high transparency up to 4.5 $μ$m. In particular, we report generating mid-infrared light up to 3.66 $μ$m via difference-frequency generation of a fixed 1-$μ$m source and a tunable telecom source, with normalized efficiencies up to 200%/W-cm$^2$. These results show TFLN-on-sapphire to be a promising platform for integrated nonlinear nanophotonics in the mid-infrared.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2021

Exploration of co-sputtered Ta$_2$O$_5$-ZrO$_2$ thin films for gravitational-wave detectors

We report on the development and extensive characterization of co-sputtered tantala-zirconia thin films, with the goal to decrease coating Brownian noise in present and future gravitational-wave detectors. We tested a variety of sputtering processes of different energies and deposition rates, and we considered the effect of different values of cation ratio $η=$ Zr/(Zr+Ta) and of post-deposition heat treatment temperature $T_a$ on the optical and mechanical properties of the films. Co-sputtered zirconia proved to be an efficient way to frustrate crystallization in tantala thin films, allowing for a substantial increase of the maximum annealing temperature and hence for a decrease of coating mechanical loss. The lowest average coating loss was observed for an ion-beam sputtered sample with $η= 0.485 \pm 0.004$ annealed at 800 $^{\circ}$C, yielding $\overlineφ = 1.8 \times 10^{-4}$. All coating samples showed cracks after annealing. Although in principle our measurements are sensitive to such defects, we found no evidence that our results were affected. The issue could be solved, at least for ion-beam sputtered coatings, by decreasing heating and cooling rates down to 7 $^{\circ}$C/h. While we observed as little optical absorption as in the coatings of current gravitational-wave interferometers (0.5 parts per million), further development will be needed to decrease light scattering and avoid the formation of defects upon annealing.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2021

Supercontinuum Generation by Saturated Second-Order Nonlinear Interactions

We propose a new approach to supercontinuum generation and carrier-envelope-offset detection based on saturated second-order nonlinear interactions in dispersion-engineered nanowaveguides. The technique developed here broadens the interacting harmonics by forming stable bifurcations of the pulse envelopes due to an interplay between phase-mismatch and pump depletion. We first present an intuitive heuristic model for spectral broadening by second-harmonic generation of femtosecond pulses, and show that this model agrees well with experiments. Then, having established strong agreement between theory and experiment, we develop scaling laws that determine the energy required to generate an octave of bandwidth as a function of input pulse duration, device length, and input pulse chirp. These scaling laws suggest that future realization based on this approach could enable supercontinuum generation with orders of magnitude less energy than current state-of-the-art devices.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2019

Ultrabroadband Nonlinear Optics in Nanophotonic Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguides

Quasi-phasematched interactions in waveguides with quadratic nonlinearities enable highly efficient nonlinear frequency conversion. In this article, we demonstrate the first generation of devices that combine the dispersion-engineering available in nanophotonic waveguides with quasi-phasematched nonlinear interactions available in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). This combination enables quasi-static interactions of femtosecond pulses, reducing the pulse energy requirements by several orders of magnitude, from picojoules to femtojoules. We experimentally demonstrate two effects associated with second harmonic generation. First, we observe efficient quasi-phasematched second harmonic generation with <100 fJ of pulse energy. Second, in the limit of strong phase-mismatch, we observe spectral broadening of both harmonics with as little as 2-pJ of pulse energy. These results lay a foundation for a new class of nonlinear devices, in which co-engineering of dispersion with quasi-phasematching enables efficient nonlinear optics at the femtojoule level.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2017

Temporal Simultons in Optical Parametric Oscillators

We identify and demonstrate a regime of operation in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) in which the formation of temporal simultons produces stable half-harmonic pulses. Simultons are simultanous bright-dark solitons of a signal field at frequency $ω$ and the pump field at $2ω$ which form in a quadratic nonlinear medium. The formation of simultons in an OPO is evidenced by sech$^2$ spectra with broad instantaneous bandwidths which increase with pump power, and large slope efficiencies. In contrast to conventional synchronously pumped OPOs, operation in this regime is achieved by using relatively large parametric gains, and a low finesse resonator detuned to a slightly longer roundtrip time than the pump repetition period. In the experiment we achieve sub-50 fs sech$^2$ pulses with a slope efficiency of 570%, and a conversion efficiency of 55% as a result of formation of simultons in an OPO. We verify the distinct features of OPO operation in the simulton regime analytically and numerically. These results represent a fundamental shift in the understanding and design of OPOs, in which the nonlinear dynamics that arise during asynchronous operation can be used to efficiently generate few-cycle long-wavelength frequency combs.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2016

Ground test of satellite constellation based quantum communication

Satellite based quantum communication has been proven as a feasible way to achieve global scale quantum communication network. Very recently, a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite has been launched for this purpose. However, with a single satellite, it takes an inefficient 3-day period to provide the worldwide connectivity. On the other hand, similar to how the Iridium system functions in classic communication, satellite constellation (SC) composed of many quantum satellites, could provide global real-time quantum communication. In such a SC, most of the satellites will work in sunlight. Unfortunately, none of previous ground testing experiments could be implemented at daytime. During daytime, the bright sunlight background prohibits quantum communication in transmission over long distances. In this letter, by choosing a working wavelength of 1550 nm and developing free-space single-mode fibre coupling technology and ultralow noise up-conversion single photon detectors, we overcome the noise due to sunlight and demonstrate a 53-km free space quantum key distribution (QKD) in the daytime through a 48-dB loss channel. Our system not only shows the feasibility of satellite based quantum communication in daylight, but also has the ability to naturally adapt to ground fibre optics, representing an essential step towards a SC-based global quantum network.

quant-ph↗