FIBER-OPTICS AND INTEGRATED PHOTONIC DEVICES RESEARCH LAB
Our group carries out research in fiber-optics and in integrated photonic devices. We look to formulate, demonstrate and employ novel effects of light-waves propagation in both media. Particular emphasis is given to nonlinear optical propagation, and to interaction between guided light and guided sound. Areas of application include optical sensors of various types, and photonic integrated circuits.
Prof. Avi Zadok
Prof. Avi Zadok graduated from Tel-Aviv University in 2007 and was a post-doctoral fellow at Caltech between 2007-2009. In the years 2009-2024 he was with the Faculty of Engineering of Bar-Ilan University. In 2024 he joined the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Technion as Full Professor.
Prof. Zadok received the Krill Award of the Wolf Foundation in 2013, a Starter Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) in 2015 and a Consolidator Grant from the same agency in 2020. He was a member of the Israel Young Academy between 2016 and 2020 and served as the Young Academy Chairman in 2019-2020. He is a member of the National Council for Research and Development of Israel (MOLMOP), and a Fellow of Optica
FEATURED PUBLICATION
Forward Brillouin scattering in few-mode fibers | Light: Science & Applications
Forward Brillouin scattering is an opto-mechanical effect in which two co-propagating optical fields couple with an
acoustic mode in a common medium. The effect has been studied in standard optical fibers since 1985, however
nearly all studies have been limited to the single optical mode regime. Forward Brillouin scattering in single-mode
fibers takes place through two classes of acoustic modes only: purely radial ones and modes of two-fold azimuthal
symmetry. Acoustic modes may only be stimulated at their cut-off frequencies, and the acoustic frequencies in
standard fibers are limited to 600 MHz. In this work, we extend the study of forward Brillouin scattering to few-mode
optical fibers through analysis, calculations, and experiment. Measurements are performed in a commercial, off-the-
shelf step-index fiber with standard cladding through three optical modes. We demonstrate for the first time the
stimulation of acoustic modes with first-order and fourth-order azimuthal symmetries. Acoustic frequencies up to
1.8 GHz are observed, and the acoustic modes are stimulated above their cut-off frequencies. Angular momentum is
transferred between the orbital degrees of freedom of the optical and acoustic waves. The results extend the
understanding and formulation of forward Brillouin scattering in optical fibers, and they may find applications in fiber
lasers, sensing, non-reciprocal propagation effects, and quantum states manipulation.
Plasmonic lattice excitation of surface acoustic waves in silicon photonic circuits
Surface acoustic waves enable long group delays and narrowband analog filtering on-chip, which are difficult to obtain with fast-moving electromagnetic waves. Surface acoustic waves have been introduced to silicon photonics through the absorption of modulated pump light in gratings of metallic elements and subsequent thermoelastic actuation. In this work, acoustic waves are excited through a plasmonic surface lattice of nano-antennas, which exhibits enhanced resonant absorption of incident light. The stronger absorption increases the intensity of the acoustic waves by a factor of 50. The devices are used in an electro-opto-mechanical, microwave-photonic oscillator and improve its linewidth and noise performance by 2–3 orders of magnitude. The results represent a major improvement in surface acoustic wave–photonic devices and a new application for plasmonics within silicon photonic circuits.
Congratulations
August 2024Congratulations Elad Layosh for the Completion of M.Sc.!
August 2024Congratulations to Matan Slook for completing the doctoral candidacy exam!
June 2024Congratulations to Elad Zehavi for receiving the prestigious Adams Fellowship for doctoral studies from the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
June 2024Congratulations to Shai Ben-Ami for receiving the prestigious Azrieli Fellowship for doctoral studies
June 2023 Congratulations to Matan, Leroy, and Elad, for receiving the M.Sc. diplomas!
May 2023Congratulations Maayan for the completion of Ph.D. !!!
March 2022Congratulations Hagai for the successful completion of Ph.D. studies!
December 2021Congratulations Etai for the successful completion of M.Sc. studies!
April 2021Congratulations to Avi and Team for winning the ERC Consolidator Grant of Horizon 2020 program. Surface Acoustic Waves Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.
February 2021Congratulations Dr. Dvir Munk for the completion of your Ph.D.!
September 2020Congratulations Dr. Yosef London for the completion of your Ph.D.!
News
Congratulations to Prof. Avi Zadok for the Technion Excellence in Teaching Award, Fall semester 2025
Prof. Avi Zadok invited to give two talks at Photonics West 2025, and a colloquium at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester
Prof. Avinoam (Avi) Zadok recently joined the Technion’s Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the pinnacle of an impressive career as the head of a groundbreaking research group at Bar-Ilan University. Full article in Technion’s Quantum Center website
