DLS: Tobias Kippenberg - Photonic Chip Based Frequency Combs

The development of optical frequency combs, and notably self-referencing, has revolutionized precision measurements over the past decade, and enabled counting of the cycles of light. Frequency combs have enabled dramatic advances in timekeeping, metrology and spectroscopy. In 2007, it was discovered that such combs can also be generated using an optical microresonator using parametric frequency conversion. Importantly, such Kerr combs also enable to generate dissipative temporal solitons (DKS), which are formally solutions to a driven dissipative nonlinear Schrödinger equation, termed Lugiato-Lefever equation – first derived to describe spatial self-organization phenomena. DKS have unlocked the full potential of Kerr combs enabling a deterministic route to broadband, and coherent optical frequency combs, whose bandwidth can be enhanced using soliton broadening phenomena, such as Soliton Cherenkov Radiation. Such Solitons Kerr combs on a chip have enabled to realize counting of the cycles of light, realize dual comb spectrometers on a chip, enabled dual comb based ultrafast ranging, massively parallel coherent communication, and offered a novel approach to massively parallel FCMW LiDAR. Recent advances based on the photonic damascene process enable ultra low loss nonlinear photonic circuits based on silicon nitride (Si3N4), have enabled ultra-low losses, and direct integration with on chip pump lasers. On the fundamental side, new and theoretically not previously predicted dynamics has been observed ranging from formation of soliton crystals, soliton switching, and new type of breather solitons, and emergent nonlinear dynamics in arrays of coupled resonators. Soliton Kerr frequency combs thereby are providing a highly fruitful new playground for fundamental nonlinear science and applications alike. The Distinguished Lecturer Series brings leading minds from all areas relevant to the science of light to MPL in Erlangen. It presents the unique opportunity for scientific exchange with the speakers to a broad audience. The topics range from terahertz optics with graphene, over self-organising proteins to particle accelerators on a chip. One special highlight will be the talk of the Canadian optical physicist Donna Strickland, Nobel laureate of 2018. All lectures will start at 15.00 CET and will be transmitted via stream. If you would like to attend, please register here for our DLS newsletter: https://mpl.mpg.de/newsletter/​ You will then receive the link for the zoom conference by e-mail shortly before the presentation. Click here for an overview of all the lectures: https://mpl.mpg.de/news-events/dls/​ #Photonics #FrequencyCombs #dlsMPL #DistinguishedLecturerSeries