Robust Geometries for Second-Harmonic-Generation in Microrings Exhibiting a 4-Bar Symmetry

Featured Application: The proposed microring geometries are suited to engineer a source of new frequencies or an integrated quadratic frequency comb source which can be used for several applications, e.g., metrology, sensing, radio-on-fiber, etc. Microring resonators made of materials with a zinc-blend or diamond lattice allow exploiting their 4-bar symmetry to achieve quasi-phase matching condition for second-order optical nonlinearities. However, fabrication tolerances impose severe limits on the quasi-phase matching condition, which in turn degrades the generation efficiency. Here, we present a method to mitigate these limitations. As an example, we studied the geometry and the pump wavelength conditions to induce the second-harmonic generation in silicon-based microrings with a second-order susceptibility chi((2))(zxy)not equal 0. We found the best compromises between performances and experimental requirements, and we unveil a strategy to minimize the impacts of fabrication defects. The method can be easily transferred to other material systems.