photonics

We review recent progress in the study of linear and nonlinear propagation in ferroelectric super-crystals. The three-dimensional super-lattice of spontaneous polarization vortices leads to giant broadband refraction across the entire visible spectrum. Absence of diffraction, chromatic dispersion, and propagation normal to the crystal facets is compatible with giant values of index of refraction larger that 25. The huge values of optical susceptibility greatly enhance second-harmonic generation efficiency with broadband spectral and angular acceptance.

Ultra-high-Q microresonators can confine extremely large amounts of optical energy in tiny mode volumes. This talk will focus on recent realizations of nonlinear interaction of counterpropagating light in these resonators. Particularly, above a certain threshold power, light of a given frequency can only circulate in one direction. Experimental and theoretical results show spontaneous symmetry breaking that follows from the interaction of the counterpropagating light. The resulting nonreciprocity of the light propagation in the microresonators can be used for novel applications including integrated photonic isolators and circulators.