Ab initio Theory for Exceptional-Point Lasers and Periodic-Inversion Lasers

Gao, Xingwei; He, Hongbo; Sobolewski, Scott; Hsu, Chia Wei

doi:10.1364/cleo_si.2023.sf2n.8

Cleo 2023 2023

DOI: 10.1364/cleo_si.2023.sf2n.8

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Ab initio Theory for Exceptional-Point Lasers and Periodic-Inversion Lasers

Xingwei Gao¹,

Hongbo He²,

Scott Sobolewski³

et al.

Abstract: We show that lasers near exceptional points have an oscillating population inversion that generates a frequency comb. We develop an ab-initio theory describing all steady-state properties of such lasers and validate it with FDTD.

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2024

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Dynamic gain and frequency comb formation in exceptional-point lasers

Gao,

He,

Sobolewski

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

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Exceptional points (EPs)—singularities in the parameter space of non-Hermitian systems where two nearby eigenmodes coalesce—feature unique properties with applications such as sensitivity enhancement and chiral emission. Existing realizations of EP lasers operate with static populations in the gain medium. By analyzing the full-wave Maxwell–Bloch equations, here we show that in a laser operating sufficiently close to an EP, the nonlinear gain will spontaneously induce a multi-spectral multi-modal instability above a pump threshold, which initiates an oscillating population inversion and generates a frequency comb. The efficiency of comb generation is enhanced by both the spectral degeneracy and the spatial coalescence of modes near an EP. Such an “EP comb” has a widely tunable repetition rate, self-starts without external modulators or a continuous-wave pump, and can be realized with an ultra-compact footprint. We develop an exact solution of the Maxwell–Bloch equations with an oscillating inversion, describing all spatiotemporal properties of the EP comb as a limit cycle. We numerically illustrate this phenomenon in a 5-μm-long gain-loss coupled AlGaAs cavity and adjust the EP comb repetition rate from 20 to 27 GHz. This work provides a rigorous spatiotemporal description of the rich laser behaviors that arise from the interplay between the non-Hermiticity, nonlinearity, and dynamics of a gain medium.

show abstract

Dynamic gain and frequency comb formation in exceptional-point lasers

Gao,

He,

Sobolewski

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

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Ab initio Theory for Exceptional-Point Lasers and Periodic-Inversion Lasers

Abstract: We show that lasers near exceptional points have an oscillating population inversion that generates a frequency comb. We develop an ab-initio theory describing all steady-state properties of such lasers and validate it with FDTD.

Cited by 1 publication

References 3 publications

Dynamic gain and frequency comb formation in exceptional-point lasers

Dynamic gain and frequency comb formation in exceptional-point lasers

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