Colloquia & Guest Speakers
Integrated Nonlinear and Optomechanical Photonics: Harnessing Light–Sound–Matter Interactions On-Chip
Gustavo Wiederhecker, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil
Monday, May 11, 2026
3:30 p.m.
Presented in person in Goergen 109 and on Zoom
Abstract
Integrated photonics has become a powerful platform for controlling light in compact and scalable devices, with growing impact on communication, sensing, and quantum technologies. In this talk, I will discuss how strong optical confinement in micro- and nanophotonic structures enhances nonlinear and optomechanical interactions, enabling new functionalities on chip. I will highlight recent progress in integrated nonlinear photonics, including frequency conversion, parametric processes, and coupled-resonator dynamics, as well as emerging opportunities enabled by engineering modal structure, dispersion, and optical interactions in high-Q devices. I will also discuss our work on light–sound interactions in integrated platforms, with emphasis on Brillouin and optomechanical effects in silicon-based and lithium-niobate systems. These results illustrate how integrated photonics can provide a versatile framework for exploring interactions among optical, mechanical, and material degrees of freedom, opening new directions for both classical and quantum photonic technologies.
Biography
Gustavo Wiederhecker is an Associate Professor at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil, where he also earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Physics, and later pursued postdoctoral research at Cornell University. His research focuses on nonlinear optical phenomena in microphotonic devices, particularly the interaction between light and mechanical waves. He served as topical editor for JOSA B in nanophotonics, optomechanics, and nonlinear optics from 2021 to 2025.