Quantum-mechanical analogy of beam propagation in waveguides with a bent axis: dynamic-mode stabilization and radiation-loss suppression

Observation of Anomalous π Modes in Photonic Floquet Engineering

Recent progress on Floquet topological phases has shed new light on time-dependant quantum systems, among which one-dimensional (1D) Floquet systems have been under extensive theoretical research. However, an unambiguous experimental observation of these 1D Floquet topological phases is still lacking. Here, by periodically bending an ultrathin metallic array of coupled corrugated waveguides, a photonic Floquet simulator was well designed and successfully fabricated to mimic the periodically driven Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Intriguingly, under moderate driven frequencies, we report the first observation of the anomalous Floquet topological π mode, propagating along the array's boundary. The different evolutionary behaviors between static and nonstatic topological end modes have been clearly demonstrated by the microwave near-field experiment. Furthermore, the experiment in the fast-driving regime also reveals the universal high-frequency behavior in driven systems. Our photonic simulator can serve as a versatile testing ground for various phenomena related to time-dependant 1D quantum phases, such as Thouless pumping and dynamical localization.

Transmission properties in waveguides: an optical streamline analysis

We present a novel approach to study transmission through waveguides in terms of optical streamlines. This theoretical framework combines the computational performance of beam propagation methods with the possibility to monitor the passage of light through the guiding medium by means of these sampler paths. In this way, not only can the optical flow along the waveguide be followed in detail, but also a fair estimate of the transmitted light (intensity) can be accounted for by counting streamline arrivals with starting points statistically distributed according to the input pulse. Furthermore, this approach allows elucidation of the mechanism leading to energy losses, namely, a vortical dynamics, which can be advantageously exploited in optimal waveguide design.

Linear and nonlinear discrete light propagation in weakly modulated large-area two-dimensional photonic lattice slab in LiNbO3:Fe crystal

A weakly modulated large-area two-dimensional square photonic lattice slab was fabricated through optical induction technique in a photorefractive photovoltaic LiNbO(3):Fe crystal. Bragg-matched diffraction technique was used to characterize the square photonic lattice slab. Interestingly, linear discrete diffraction typical for waveguide arrays was observed in such a square photonic lattice slab, indicating that the lattice slab can be viewed effectively as a one-dimensional waveguide array. Furthermore, discrete soliton was demonstrated in the photonic lattice slab due to a saturable self-defocusing nonlinearity arising from the bulk photorefractive photovoltaic effect of LiNbO(3):Fe.

Inhibition of light tunneling in waveguide arrays

We report the observation of almost perfect light tunneling inhibition at the edge and inside laser-written waveguide arrays due to band collapse. When the refractive index of the guiding channels is harmonically modulated along the propagation direction and out-of-phase in adjacent guides, light is trapped in the excited waveguide over a long distance due to resonances. The phenomenon can be used for tuning the localization threshold power.

Adiabatic passage of light in coupled optical waveguides

Adiabatic passage of light in coupled optical waveguides with a curved axis is theoretically investigated and shown to bear a close connection with coherent population transfer among quantum states of atoms and molecules. In particular, the optical analog of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage can be realized in a three-waveguide optical directional coupler.

Beam dynamics and wave packet splitting in a periodically curved optical waveguide: multimode effects

A theoretical and experimental analysis of beam dynamics and wave packet splitting of light in a periodically bent optical waveguide, a phenomenon recently observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 073002 (2005)] which is the optical equivalent of adiabatic stabilization of atoms in intense and high-frequency laser fields, is presented in the multimode operational regime. Inhibition of wave packet splitting is theoretically predicted and experimentally observed for higher-order mode excitation.

Observation of wave packet dichotomy and adiabatic stabilization in an optical waveguide

We report on the first experimental observation of wave packet dichotomy and adiabatic stabilization of light in a periodically bent optical waveguide in analogy with similar behavior of atoms in high-frequency strong laser fields.

Ray and wave instabilities in twisted graded-index optical fibers

We study ray and wave propagation in an elliptical graded-index optical fiber or lens with a twisted axis and show analytically the existence of an instability for both ray trajectories and beam moments in a finite range of axis twist rate embedded within the spatial frequencies of periodically focused rays for the untwisted fiber. By considering the paraxial ray equations and the paraxial wave dynamics in a rotating frame that follows the fiber axis twist, we reduce the dynamical problem of ray trajectories to the classical Blackburn's pendulum, which shows a dynamical instability, corresponding to classical diverging trajectories, due to the competing effects of confining potential, Coriolis force, and centrifugal force. A closed set of linear evolution equations for generalized beam moments are also derived from the paraxial wave equation in the rotating reference frame, revealing the existence of a dynamical moment instability in addition to the trajectory instability. A detailed analysis of beam propagation is presented in case of a Gaussian beam, and different dynamical regimes are discussed.