Microresonator and Laser Parameter Definition via Self-Injection Locking
Artem E. Shitikov, Oleg V. Benderov, Nikita M. Kondratiev, Valery E. Lobanov, Alexander V. Rodin, Igor A. Bilenko
Abstract
Self-injection locking to a high-quality-factor microresonator is a key component of various up-to-date photonic applications, including compact narrow-linewidth lasers and microcomb sources. For optimal construction of such devices, it is necessary to know the parameters of the locking mode, which is a challenging task. We experimentally develop and verify an original technique based on the fundamentals of the self-injection locking effect, which allows determining the key parameters of the mode of the microresonator (quality factor, vertical index) as well as the laser diode parameters. We demonstrate that this method can be used in the spectral ranges where conventional methods are not applicable, for example, in the mid-IR. We stabilize a $2.64\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ laser diode by a high-$Q$ whispering gallery mode microresonator made of crystalline silicon. Using the elaborated technique, the quality factor of the microresonator is determined to be $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$.