Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power

Abstract Ultra-low linewidth, high output power, integrated single mode lasers, that operate from the visible to shortwave-IR, are critical for future compact, portable, precision applications. Achieving this performance in a CMOS compatible integration platform that can also enable scaling to lower...

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Main Authors: Kaikai Liu, Karl D. Nelson, Ryan O. Behunin, Daniel J. Blumenthal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61637-w
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author Kaikai Liu
Karl D. Nelson
Ryan O. Behunin
Daniel J. Blumenthal
author_facet Kaikai Liu
Karl D. Nelson
Ryan O. Behunin
Daniel J. Blumenthal
author_sort Kaikai Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ultra-low linewidth, high output power, integrated single mode lasers, that operate from the visible to shortwave-IR, are critical for future compact, portable, precision applications. Achieving this performance in a CMOS compatible integration platform that can also enable scaling to lower linewidths and higher powers remains a key challenge. We report demonstration of a class of integrated laser with a 31 mHz instantaneous linewidth, 41 mW output power, and 73 dB sidemode suppression ratio, tunable over 22.5 nm. This performance is possible due to Brillouin nonlinear laser dynamics in a large mode volume, meter-scale, MHz free spectral range, low loss silicon nitride coil resonator with the potential to scale to an operating regime of mHz fundamental linewidth and Watt class lasers. Such lasers hold promise to unlock new sensitivity and fidelity for quantum sensing and computing, ultra-low-noise mmWave and RF generation, fiber sensing, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-0bc806b536e34e4faea2e9fa8c58085b2025-08-20T03:46:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611810.1038/s41467-025-61637-wLarge mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high powerKaikai Liu0Karl D. Nelson1Ryan O. Behunin2Daniel J. Blumenthal3Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa BarbaraHoneywell Aerospace TechnologiesDepartment of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Northern Arizona UniversityDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa BarbaraAbstract Ultra-low linewidth, high output power, integrated single mode lasers, that operate from the visible to shortwave-IR, are critical for future compact, portable, precision applications. Achieving this performance in a CMOS compatible integration platform that can also enable scaling to lower linewidths and higher powers remains a key challenge. We report demonstration of a class of integrated laser with a 31 mHz instantaneous linewidth, 41 mW output power, and 73 dB sidemode suppression ratio, tunable over 22.5 nm. This performance is possible due to Brillouin nonlinear laser dynamics in a large mode volume, meter-scale, MHz free spectral range, low loss silicon nitride coil resonator with the potential to scale to an operating regime of mHz fundamental linewidth and Watt class lasers. Such lasers hold promise to unlock new sensitivity and fidelity for quantum sensing and computing, ultra-low-noise mmWave and RF generation, fiber sensing, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61637-w
spellingShingle Kaikai Liu
Karl D. Nelson
Ryan O. Behunin
Daniel J. Blumenthal
Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
Nature Communications
title Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
title_full Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
title_fullStr Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
title_full_unstemmed Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
title_short Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power
title_sort large mode volume integrated brillouin lasers for scalable ultra low linewidth and high power
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61637-w
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AT danieljblumenthal largemodevolumeintegratedbrillouinlasersforscalableultralowlinewidthandhighpower