Q2.

Do an assignment (after doing literature survey) and make a 2-3 page report if any other
mechanism/ technique exist (apart from that discussed in PPT slides) to realize an optical
isolator or circulator? Explain the mechanism, and also provide the link(s) of the source/paper
that you have referred for doing this assignment.

Ans: Michael Scheucher and Ad`ele Hilico demonstrated a fiber-integrated quantum optical
circulator that is operated by a single atom and that relies on the chiral interaction between
emitters and transversally confined light. Like its counterparts in classical optics, our
circulator exhibits an inherent asymmetry between light propagation in the forward and the
backward direction. However, rather than a magnetic field or a temporal modulation, it is the
internal quantum state of the atom that controls the operation direction of the circulator. This
working principle is compatible with preparing the circulator in a coherent superposition of
its operational states. Such a quantum circulator may thus become a key element for routing
and processing quantum information in scalable integrated optical circuits. Moreover, it
features a strongly nonlinear response at the single-photon level, thereby enabling, e.g.,
photon number-dependent routing and novel quantum simulation protocols.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1609.02492.pdf

The realization of nanophotonic optical isolators with high optical isolation even at ultralow
light levels and low optical losses is an open problem. Here, we employ the link between the
local polarization of strongly confined light and its direction of propagation to realize low-
loss nonreciprocal transmission through a silica nanofiber at the single-photon level. The
direction of the resulting optical isolator is controlled by the spin state of cold atoms. We
perform our experiment in two qualitatively different regimes, i.e., with an ensemble of cold
atoms where each atom is weakly coupled to the waveguide and with a single atom strongly
coupled to the waveguide mode. In both cases, we observe simultaneously high isolation and
high forward transmission. The isolator concept constitutes a nanoscale quantum optical
analog of microwave ferrite resonance isolators, can be implemented with all kinds of optical
waveguides and emitters, and might enable novel integrated optical devices for fiber-based
classical and quantum networks.
Miniaturized components that control the flow of light are key to information processing in
integrated optical circuits. When it comes to power consumption and channel capacity, such
circuits have the potential to largely outperform their electronic counterparts. In these
structures, the wiring is realized with nanophotonic waveguides. Thus, the control of the
direction of the light flow requires nanophotonic nonreciprocal devices, i.e., components that
exhibit an inherent asymmetry between light propagation in the forward and the backward
directions. Among those, components that yield an asymmetric transmission, like optical
diodes and circulators, are of particular interest. Beyond their relevance for classical optical
circuits, such devices are essential also for future quantum networks where information is
encoded in single photons. In order to be suitable for such quantum applications, however,
these elements must exhibit low optical losses and be compatible with ultralow light levels.
Commercially available Faraday isolators fulfil the above requirements but are bulk optical
components. Their miniaturization is hampered by the birefringence of typical integrated
waveguides. Integrated isolators that make use of nonlinear optical effects in waveguides or
micro cavities have been demonstrated. However, they require large intensities and thus
cannot operate at the single-photon level. Using time modulation of the waveguide properties,
nonreciprocal transmission at low light levels has been achieved, yet only demonstrating an
isolation of less than 3 dB.
https://journals.aps.org/prx/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevX.5.041036

As new optical devices for increasing further the utility of and to expand the application of
fiber-optic communications, grating multiplexers and isolators have been developed for 0.8
μm band employing micro optic approach. The development of these devices is the subject of
this paper. The devices have desirable features of small size, compactness, high optical
performances, and high reliability. The grating multiplexer consists of a graded-index rod, a
blazed reflection grating replicated onto the graded-index rod slanting facet or a wedge facet,
and an input-output fiber array. Simple calculations have been done to determine necessary
element parameters for a given channel spacing. Experimental results are presented for five-
channel multiplexers devised using a SELFOC ® lens. Around 3 dB insertion loss and less
than -30 dB crosstalk have been obtained for about 35 nm channel spacing in overall device
size of 18 \times 13 \times 50 mm. Faraday rotation optical isolators for 0.8 μm band have
been miniaturized by employing an efficient paramagnetic glass Faraday rotator, a magnet
with a through hole and a folded optics in the Faraday rotator. The path number in the folded
optics has been optimized in terms of trading-off between the magnet size and the insertion
loss. A 0.9 dB insertion loss including fiber coupling loss and 36 dB isolation have been
obtained in overall device size of 24 \times 24.5 \times 42 mm. Results on the temperature
and wavelength dependence of the isolation are also presented. In addition, fundamental
properties of optical circulators for 0.8 μm band and optical isolators and circulators both for
1.3 μm band, developed as extended modifications of the optical isolators for 0.8 μm band,
are briefly described.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1070334

A bimodal planar waveguide segment of specific length and thickness between two thinner
single mode sections can serve as an interferometer. Depending on the phase gain of the two
modes in the thick region, these fields can interfere destructively or constructively at the
transition from the bimodal to the single mode section. We employ this geometry to realize a
simple magneto optic isolator configuration, using a wide strip that is etched into a double
layer in-plane magnetized magneto optic film. The magnetization is oriented parallel to the
strip; the light traverses the strip perpendicularly. Then the magneto optic effect causes the
phase velocities of TM polarized waves to be different for opposite directions of light
propagation, resulting in a nonreciprocal power transfer across the strip. For a properly
selected geometry one can expect isolator performance. If the strip width varies slightly, then
adjusting the beam in coupling position means to change the distance which the light travels
in the two mode segment. This offers a convenient tuning possibility, which may be a means
to overcome the strict fabrication tolerances that apply usually to interferometry integrated
isolator concepts.
https://www.computational-photonics.eu/Papers/Jrnl/cse.pdf