An Optical Parametric Amplifier via ^ (2) in AlGaAs Waveguides

We report parametric gain by utilizing ^ (2) non-linearities in a semiconductor Bragg Reflection Waveguide (BRW) waveguide chip. Under the two-mode degenerate type II phase matching, it can be shown that more than 18 dBs of parametric gain for both TE and TM modes is tenable in 100 s of micrometers of device length. Polarization insensitive parametric gain can be attained within the 1550 nm region of the spectrum. These AlGaAs BRW waveguides exhibit sub-photon per pulse sensitivity. This is in sharp contrast to other types of parametric gain devices which utilize ^ (3), where the pump wavelength is in the vicinity of the signal wavelength. This sensitivity, which reached 0. 1 photon/pulse, can usher a new era for on-chip quantum information processing using compact, micrometer-scale devices.