Pulse-Shaping in Microstructures: From Optical Comb Generation to Superresolution Imaging
Abstract
Traditionally, in optics, space and time domains have been two separate major areas of research: such as spatial imaging on one side, and frequency comb generation and pulse shaping on the other. Even though, occasionally time-domain concepts have been built on ideas adapted from space-domain concepts, the two remained independent. In this work, we propose an approach taking advantage of both concepts. We merge the spatial and temporal domains by introducing a technique that can improve light confinement of metamaterial-based optics, specifically superresolution imaging methods, with pulse shaping. Performance of metamaterial-based applications is severely limited by losses – the issue that remains unresolved despite significant efforts. We demonstrate that engineering temporal profile of light source by pulse shaping makes it possible to reduce the effect of material loss on light confinement and performance of superresolution imaging methods. In this work, we also introduce an alternative mechanism of optical frequency comb generation in microresonators, capable of operating at low intracavity and input powers, and not suppressed in the presence of nonlinear losses in the materials such as silicon at the telecom wavelength. Such capability lays the foundation for implementing pulse shaping on a silicon chip. Our approach combines the concepts from nonlinear optics and chaotic dynamical systems. In contrast to the standard mechanism, taking advantage of the resonant enhancement of intracavity field to boost nonlinearity, we make use of period-doubling bifurcations in a cavity near its anti-resonance.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Narimanov, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Electrical engineering|Optics|Materials science
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.