John E Bowers

Abstract Optically generated microwave signals exhibit some of the lowest phase noise and timing jitter of any microwave-generating technology. The success of octave-spanning optical frequency combs in downconverting ultrastable optical frequency references has motivated the development of compact, robust and highly manufacturable optical systems that maintain the low microwave phase noise of their tabletop counterparts.

Abstract In microcombs, solitons can drive non-soliton-forming modes to induce optical gain. Under specific conditions, a regenerative secondary temporal pulse coinciding in time and space with the exciting soliton pulse will form at a new spectral location. A mechanism involving Kerr-induced pulse interactions has been proposed theoretically, leading to multicolor solitons containing constituent phase-locked pulses.

Abstract Reflections from on-chip components pose significant challenges to stable laser operation in photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Quantum dot (QD) lasers, with low linewidth enhancement factors and high damping rates, are promising for isolator-free integration, yet earlier feedback studies were capped near −10 dB feedback and never reached coherence collapse (CC).