Asymmetric Fano resonance and

bistability in a two-ring
resonator switch

by:
Landobasa Y.M. Tobing
M. K. Chin

Photonic Research Centre

Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
Introduction

Illustration about bistability

Cavity build-up factor B

n2 < 0 n2 > 0 •As IIN ↑, the resonant wavelength λ0 moves.

•The movement depends on the sign of Kerr
nonlinearity n2.
•For n2<0, it is pulled towards the operating
wavelength λi.
•As λ0 moves, the build-up factor increases
accordingly.
λi λ0 •The build-up factor B starts to decrease when
λ0 < λi.

(2) At n2 < 0, the situation in (1) becomes unstable

at the increasing B. It would suddenly jump to a
stable situation in (2).

(1) λ0( IIN)

Introduction

Parameters in nonlinear switching

T Nonlinear

ON
T

Extinction ratio
ER = ON/OFF
λ
Modulation depth
Linear OFF MD = ON-OFF

IOFF ION n2IIN

Bistability in various configurations
(1) (2) (3)
WG1

WG2

(4)

(6)

(5) … …
1. F. Sanchez, Opt. Commun. 142, 211 (1997).
2. B. Maes, et. al.. J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 22(8), 1778-1784 (2005).
3. Y. Dumeige, et. al.. Opt. Commun. 250 (2005) 376-383.
4. Y. Dumeige, et. al.. Phys. Rev. B, 72 066609 (2005).
5. J. Danckaert, et. al., Phys. Rev. B, 44, 15, 8214 (1991).
6. M. Soljačić, et. al., Phys. Rev. B, 66, 055601 (2002).
Outline

IR
limitation IT
IIN IOUT
IIN ID

Bistability in Bistability in
symmetric asymmetric
resonance resonance

Comparison
of switching
performance
Symmetric resonance

One ring coupled to one bus

Critical coupling 1 r≠a
r=a
0.8

THROUGH
IR
0.6

0.4
IIN IOUT
r=a
0.2

Assumptions:
0
ƒPhase matched and lossless coupling. 100.8 100.9 101 101.1 101.2
δ/2π
ƒThe effective index is constant within narrow
range of frequency.
a’ b’ ⎛ b '⎞ ⎛ r jt ⎞ ⎛ a ' ⎞ δ = (ω / c ) neff LC
⎜ ⎟=⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎝ b ⎠ ⎝ jt r ⎠ ⎝ a ⎠ LC = 2π R
a b r2 + t2 = 1
One ring coupled to one waveguide bus

Parametric formulation
IR •The line slope becomes flatter at
increasing input intensity IIN.

IIN IOUT
•Multistability starts to occur when the
there are more than one intersections.
•The corresponding IIN and IOUT can be
found through IR.
IR/IIN
δ ( I R ) = δ L + Δδ NL ( I R )
2π L
= ( neff + n2η I R )
λ
IR 1− r2 1 − exp(−α L)
B= = η=
I IN 1 − 2ra cos δ + r 2 a 2 αL

IR Only Kerr nonlinearity n2 is assumed to present.

One ring coupled to one waveguide bus

Nonlinear Spectrum
T
1
(a) (b)
The nonlinear
0.8 0.8
sensitivity is at best
in the critical
0.6 0.6 0.95 coupling condition.
T
0.92
0.4 0.4 0.89

0.2 1567.4nm
0.2
Initial detuning condition
1567.6nm
1567.8nm λ = 1567nm | ω − ω0 |≥ Δω 3 2
0 -4 -4 -3
n I 10 10 n I 10
2 IN 2 IN

•Different curves in (a) correspond to different initial detuning. Bistability occurs only
when detuning is larger than the critical detuning.
•Extinction ratio (ER) increases when detuning is closer to critical detuning.
•Figure (b) shows ER increases when the loss is increased, which broadens the
linewidth. This has the same effect as if the detuning is closer to critical detuning. But
broader linewidth also increases the input threshold.
Limitation of symmetric resonance

Difficult to obtain both high ER and large MD

† Generally, high ER can be obtained if we place the

operating wavelength very close to critical detuning.
† This makes, in critical coupling condition, the initial
amplitude spectrum to be low.
† High ER consequently yields low ‘modulation depth’.
Asymmetric resonance

The Two Ring Configuration

•The upper ring provides
γ = R2 / R1 optical feedback to the
bottom ring.
•This induces significant
IT phase perturbation at the
vicinity of the upper ring
IIN ID resonance.
•This ‘loading effect’
induces a large phase swing,
Path 2 where additional resonance is
possible.
•The resonance is mainly due
to the interference between
Path 1
the denoted pathways
Two Ring Configuration

Linear spectrum
T
-205 (1) (2)
δ/π γ = 0.95
-206
γ = 1.05 γ = 1.0
-207
(2) (1)
-208

-209 γ = 1.0

1 102.6 102.7 102.8 102.9 103 103.1 103.2 103.3 103.4 (3) (4)
T (3) (4)
1
0.5
Resonance γ = 1.05
Splitting 0.5

0 (1) (2)
102.5 103 103.5 0
δ1/2π 1.55 1.552 1.554
λ (μm)

The modified round trip phase

⎧ a2 sin(γδ1 ) ⎫ −1 ⎧ a2 r2 sin(γδ1 ) ⎫
δ = tan −1 ⎨ ⎬ − tan ⎨ ⎬ − δ1
⎩ 2
r − a 2 cos(γδ )
1 ⎭ ⎩1 − a r
2 2 cos(γδ )
1 ⎭
Two Ring Configuration Æ Linear Spectrum

The tuning of Asymmetricity

1 1

r = 0.99
2
DROP

0.5 0.8

r = 0.75
γ = 1.0 γ = 1.03 0.6 1

DROP (D)
0
1.55 1.552 1.554 1.556 1.55 1.552 1.554 1.556
r = 0.85
1
0.4

r = 0.95
1
0.2

γ = 1.05 γ = 1.07
1.55 1.552 1.554 1.556 1.55 1.552 1.554 1.556 0
1.553 1.5535 1.554 1.5545 1.555 1.5555 1.556 1.5565 1.557
λ (μm) λ (μm)

•At γ = 1, the resonances are split symmetrically. At γ ≠ 1, the resonances

are split asymmetrically, giving rise to asymmetric Fano-like resonance.
•The Fano resonance becomes narrower as it detunes farther from the
bottom ring resonance.
•The asymmetricity can be tailored upon changing the ‘envelope’ from the
bottom ring spectrum as denoted by changing r1.
Two Ring Configuration Æ Linear Spectrum

Linewidth ‘shrinking’
1
D
•A Vernier effect at integer 1

γ makes resonance splitting 0 .8

0 .5

around the bottom ring 0 .6 0

1 .5 4 5 2 1 .5 4 5 4 1 .5 45 6
resonance. λ (μm )

0 .4
• At the upper ring γ = 2 .0

resonance (just right in the 0 .2

middle), the symmetric
Fano-like resonance arises, 0
1 .5 3 5 1 .5 4 1 .5 4 5 1 .5 5 1 .5 5 5
λ (μm )
with the linewidth ‘shrunk’
by the build-up factor B2 in (1 − r12 ) 2
D =| d | ≅2
,
the upper ring, relative to (1 − r12 ) 2 + r14 (1 + γ B2 ) 2 θ 2
the bottom ring resonance 2(1 − r12 )
with θ FWHM = 2
linewidth. r1 (1 + γ B2 )
Two Ring Configuration Æ Nonlinear Spectrum

Nonlinear Spectrum
(parametric formulation)
Set of equations
ED = it1T2 a11/ 2 exp(iγ 14
NL | E1 | ) exp( −iδ1 / 2) E1
2

Ring 2 ET = [1 − a1T2 exp(−iδ1 ) exp(iγ 16 2

E8 E9 NL | E1 | )]( r1 / it1 ) E1

EIN = [1 − a1r12T2 exp(−iδ1 ) exp(iγ 16 2

NL | E1 | )]( r1 / it1 ) E1
ET
E E E3 = [r2 − a2 exp(−iδ 2 ) exp(iγ NL
98
| E9 |2 )]E9 / it2
E1 2 3E
4
EIN E6 ED E2 = [1 − a2 r2 exp(−iδ 2 ) exp(iγ NL 98
| E9 |2 )]E9 / it2
E 5
| E2 |2 a1−1/ 2 = | E1 |2 , T2 = E3 / E2 , a1,2 = exp(−α1,2 L1,2 )
Ring 1
γ NL
ij
= k0 neff n2 cε o [1 − exp(−α Lij )]/(2α )

•For convenience, the E9 is chosen as the parametric field.

•The loading effect is denoted by the T2 in the set of equations.
•The n2 < 0, R ~ 15 μm (* )

(*) We followed the n and dimensions used in Y. Dumeige, et. al., Opt. Commun. 250
2
(2005) 376-383
Two Ring Configuration Æ Nonlinear Spectrum

Nonlinear Through (T) Output for

different asymmetrical resonances
T
1 λ = 1555 nm

0.8

0.6 1,2 ==0.95

rr1,2 0.95

0.4 rr11 ==0.85

0.85,
rr22 ==0.95
0.95

0.2 r1 = 0.85
rr22=a 1,2=0.95
= 0.95
ra11,2==0.85
r2
0 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2
10 10 n I 10 10 10
2 IN
•In the critical coupling condition, the resonant absorption totally quenches the
interference between the two pathways, thus degrading the nonlinear response.
•At non-critical coupling, the intensity build-up is faster as it increases but
slower as it decreases.
•Therefore, the ER is significantly improved in a more asymmetric case.
Comparison between the two
configurations (with the same optical bandwidth)
1
•Both configurations exhibit
~0.1nm (10GHz) optical
bandwidth, with ER > 10dB.
0.8
•Observably, the asymmetric
T 0.6 symmetric
resonance has ‘wider critical
detuning’ as compared to the
asymmetric symmetric one.
0.4
•The asymmetric case has more
modulation depth.
0.2
•If the relatively high MD is
maintained, the input threshold
0 -10
10 10
-5 0
10 for asymmetric case is one
n I
2 IN order lower.
Conclusions
† Introducing asymmetricity increases the
extinction ratio and modulation depth at the
same time.
† To achieve a desired optical switching
bandwidth, a compromise with the input
threshold is necessary.
† Critical coupling degrades the switching
performance by quenching the inter-pathways
interference.
† The two-ring configuration can be used to
generate ultra-narrow resonances.
THANK YOU
Q&A
Verification with coupled mode theory from other works

T
(1) (2)
γ = 0.95

(2) (1)

γ = 1.0

(3) (4)
(3) (4)
1
γ = 1.05
0.5

(1) (2)
0
1.55 1.552 1.554
λ (μm)

From Yanik et. al. (CMT) Transfer matrix

 Build-up factor in the respective rings
2
10
Ring 2
E8 E9
1 B21
10 B1 B2 ET
E2 E3
E1 E4
0 EIN E6 E5 ED
10
Ring 1
-1
10
E9 it2
FE21 = =
E2 1 − a2 r2 exp(−iδ 2 )
10
-2 E1 it1 / r1
1.55 1.552 1.554 1.556 1.558 1.56 FE1 = =
EIN 1 − a1r12T2 exp(−iδ1 )
λ (mum)
⎛ E ⎞⎛ E ⎞
FE2 = ⎜ 9 ⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟ = a11/ 4 exp(−iδ1 / 4) ( FE21 )( FE1 )
⎝ E2 ⎠ ⎝ EIN ⎠
Build-up slope in the upper rings
1 1000

0.8
T 500

0.6
0
0.4
dB (λ )/dδ
2 1
dB (λ )/d δ -500
0.2 21 1

0 -1000
1.554 1.5545 1.555 1.5555 1.556
λ (μm)