Recent Progress in Nanophotonic Light Sources

Abstract

It is increasingly crucial in the information era to rapidly transmit and process vast quantities of data. However, conventional electronic integrated circuits that operate at rates below 10 GHz encounter significant challenges in effectively managing parallel signals. How can information be transmitted more quickly? Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are the solution. PICs have the capability of processing multiple signals in parallel on a single optical waveguide by multiplexing wavelength, polarization, and angular momentum. This enables PICs to transmit at speeds exceeding 100 GHz, showing the potential to increase processing speeds while simultaneously reducing power levels. Nevertheless, one drawback of photonic devices is that they are typically several orders of magnitude larger than electronic devices. Consequently, nanophotonics researchers have been working to make photonic devices smaller without compromising their ability to control light. Advances in nanoscale light sources can present a viable solution to overcome these obstacles. With the formation of long-lasting, spatially confined resonances in nanocavities, it is possible to precisely manipulate far-field radiation. In this article, we provide an overview of the recent achievements in nanophotonic light sources, including topological nanolasers and single-photon emitters.