Open AccessTime and frequency domain measurements of solitons in subwavelength silicon waveguides using a cross-correlation technique
Author(s) -
Wei Ding,
Andrey V. Gorbach,
W.J. Wadswarth,
Jonathan C. Knight,
Dmitry V. Skryabin,
Michael J. Strain,
Marc Sorel,
R.M. De La Rue
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.026625
Subject(s) - optics , physics , self phase modulation , chirp , soliton , group velocity , dispersion (optics) , femtosecond , interferometry , silicon on insulator , nonlinear optics , pulse compression , wavelength , waveguide , silicon , group delay dispersion , nonlinear system , optical fiber , optoelectronics , laser , fiber optic sensor , dispersion shifted fiber , telecommunications , radar , quantum mechanics , computer science
We report time domain measurements of the group-velocity-dispersion-induced and nonlinearity-induced chirping of femtosecond pulses in subwavelength silicon-on-insulator waveguides. We observe that at a critical input power level, these two effects compensate each other leading to soliton formation. Formation of the fundamental optical soliton is observed at a peak power of a few Watts inside the waveguide. Interferometric cross-correlation traces reveal compression of the soliton pulses, while spectral measurements show pronounced dispersive waves emitted by solitons into the wavelength range of normal group velocity dispersion.