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    Broadband optical nonreciprocity based on gain saturation in an Er-doped fiber

    Yuhong Zou

    Fan Lv and Haodong Wu

    Jiangshan Tang

    Han Zhang

    Hui Jing

    Keyu Xia*

    • Department of Physics and Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China

    • *Contact author: keyu.xia@nju.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. A 112, 033531 – Published 22 September, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/w94c-xk6j

    Abstract

    Nonreciprocal optical devices, allowing transmission of light with different efficiencies in opposite directions, are key elements for modern optical communication and even quantum information technologies, but elusive to be integrated on a chip to date. Such devices exploring nonlinearity can tackle this integration issue without using a magnetic field. However, they are constrained by narrow bandwidth or large signal power because of the weak nonlinear strength of materials. Here, by combining the strong gain-saturation nonlinearity of an Er-doped optical fiber and the asymmetric inputs, we experimentally demonstrate a broadband resonator-free nonreciprocal optical device. This nonmagnetic device operating at telecom wavelength shows nonreciprocal transmission with contrast of 19.97dB over a bandwidth of 33.3nm and reaches a maximum contrast of 23.91dB. With the potential of extending to on-chip Er-doped optical waveguides with currently existing experimental techniques, this simple design paves the way for integrated broadband nonreciprocity devices and can boost the functions of photonic chips.

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