Large-range tunable fractional-order differentiator based on cascaded microring resonators

Abstract

In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate an all-optical continuously tunable fractional-order differentiator using on-chip cascaded electrically tuned microring resonators (MRRs). By changing the voltage applied on a MRR, the phase shift at the resonance frequency of the MRR varies, which can be used to implement tunable fractional-order differentiator. Hence fractional-order differentiator with a larger tunable range can be obtained by cascading more MRR units on a single chip. In the experiment, we applied two direct current voltage sources on two cascaded MRRs respectively, and a tunable order range of 0.57 to 2 have been demonstrated with Gaussian pulse injection, which is the largest tuning range to our knowledge.

Keywords

all-optical devices / optical differentiator / optical signal processing

References

[1] Azaña J, Madsen C, Takiguchi K, Cincotti G. Guest editorial optical signal processing. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2006, 24(7): 2484–2486

[2] Ngo N Q, Yu S F, Tjin S C, Kam C H. A new theoretical basis of higher-derivative optical differentiators. Optics Communications, 2004, 230(1–3): 115–129

[3] Berger N K, Levit B, Fischer B, Kulishov M, Plant D V, Azaña J. Temporal differentiation of optical signals using a phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating. Optics Express, 2007, 15(2): 371–381

[4] Liu F, Wang T, Qiang L, Ye T, Zhang Z, Qiu M, Su Y. Compact optical temporal differentiator based on silicon microring resonator. Optics Express, 2008, 16(20): 15880–15886

[5] Slavík R, Park Y, Kulishov M, Morandotti R, Azaña J. Ultrafast all-optical differentiators. Optics Express, 2006, 14(22): 10699–10707

[6] Kulishov M, Azaña J. Long-period fiber gratings as ultrafast optical differentiators. Optics Letters, 2005, 30(20): 2700–2702

[7] Xu J, Zhang X, Dong J, Liu D, Huang D. High-speed all-optical differentiator based on a semiconductor optical amplifier and an optical filter. Optics Letters, 2007, 32(13): 1872–1874

[8] Li M, Janner D, Yao J, Pruneri V. Arbitrary-order all-fiber temporal differentiator based on a fiber Bragg grating: design and experimental demonstration. Optics Express, 2009, 17(22): 19798–19807

[9] Park Y, Azaña J, Slavík R. Ultrafast all-optical first- and higher-order differentiators based on interferometers. Optics Letters, 2007, 32(6): 710–712

[10] Li Z, Wu C. All-optical differentiator and high-speed pulse generation based on cross-polarization modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier. Optics Letters, 2009, 34(6): 830–832

[11] Hu Y, Zhang L, Xiao X, Li Z, Li Y, Chu T, Su Y, Yu Y, Yu J. An ultra-high-speed photonic temporal differentiator using cascaded SOI microring resonators. Journal of Optics, 2012, 14(6): 065501

[12] Dong J, Zheng A, Gao D, Liao S, Lei L, Huang D, Zhang X. High-order photonic differentiator employing on-chip cascaded microring resonators. Optics Letters, 2013, 38(5): 628–630

[13] Dong J, Zheng A, Gao D, Lei L, Huang D, Zhang X. Compact, flexible and versatile photonic differentiator using silicon Mach-Zehnder interferometers. Optics Express, 2013, 21(6): 7014–7024

[14] Li M, Jeong H S, Azaña J, Ahn T J. 25-terahertz-bandwidth all-optical temporal differentiator. Optics Express, 2012, 20(27): 28273–28280

[15] Ahn T J, Azaña J. Wavelength-selective directional couplers as ultrafast optical differentiators. Optics Express, 2011, 19(8): 7625–7632

[16] Cuadrado-Laborde C. All-optical ultrafast fractional differentiator. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2008, 40(13): 983–990

[17] Cuadrado-Laborde C, Andrés M V. In-fiber all-optical fractional differentiator. Optics Letters, 2009, 34(6): 833–835

[18] Cuadrado-Laborde C, Andrés M V. Design of an ultra-broadband all-optical fractional differentiator with a long-period fiber grating. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2011, 42(9–10): 571–576

[19] Li M, Shao L Y, Albert J, Yao J P. Continuously tunable photonic fractional temporal differentiator based on a tilted fiber Bragg grating. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2011, 23(4): 251–253

[20] Shahoei H, Albert J, Yao J P. Tunable fractional order temporal differentiator by optically pumping a tilted fiber Bragg grating. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2012, 24(9): 730–732

[21] Shahoei H, Xu D X, Schmid J H, Yao J P. Photonic fractional-order differentiator using an SOI microring resonator with an MMI coupler. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2013, 25(15): 1408–1411

[22] Zheng A, Yang T, Xiao X, Yang Q, Zhang X, Dong J. Tunable fractional-order differentiator using an electrically tuned silicon-on-isolator Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Optics Express, 2014, 22(15): 18232–18237

[23] Zheng A, Dong J, Zhou L, Xiao X, Yang Q, Zhang X, Chen J. Fractional-order photonic differentiator using an on-chip microring resonator. Optics Letters, 2014, 39(21): 6355–6358

[24] Jin B, Yuan J, Yu C, Sang X, Wu Q, Li F, Wang K, Yan B, Farrell G, Wai P K A. Tunable fractional-order photonic differentiator based on the inverse Raman scattering in a silicon microring resonator. Optics Express, 2015, 23(9): 11141–11151

[25] Qiu Y, Xiao X, Luo M, Li C, Yang Q, Yu S. Tunable, narrow line-width silicon micro-ring laser source for coherent optical communications. In: Proceedings of CLEO:QELS_Fundamental Science. San Jose, California: Optical Society of America, 2015, JTh2A.57

[26] Yang T, Dong J, Liao S, Huang D, Zhang X. Comparison analysis of optical frequency comb generation with nonlinear effects in highly nonlinear fibers. Optics Express, 2013, 21(7): 8508–8520

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB301704), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Ministry of Education of China (No. NCET-11-0168), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11174096 and 61475052).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2016 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg