Chinese Optics Letters, Volume. 23, Issue 5, (2025)
Optical isolator in the ferromagnetic microsphere coupled integrated Si3N4 waveguide [Early Posting]
We experimentally demonstrate the optical isolator utilizing high-quality factor whispering gallery modes in a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) microsphere, coupled with the integrated Si3N4 waveguide. By applying a magnetic field in the vertical direction of resonator equator, we achieve the breaking of degeneracy between the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) modes, driven by photonic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and the Faraday effect. The maximum observed wavelength separation is about 7.9 pm, comparable with the linewidth of the mode. The better effect refractive index matching between the YIG microsphere and Si3N4 waveguide enables an isolation ratio of 16.9 dB under critical coupling condition. This work presents a novel integrated approach for realizing non-reciprocity in photonic circuits, advancing the development of compact, high-performance photonic devices.