High-directional vortex beam emitter based on Archimedean spiral adiabatic waveguides

Switching via wave interaction in topological photonic lattices

A honeycomb Floquet lattice with helically rotating waveguides and an interface separating two counter-propagating subdomains is analyzed. Two topologically protected localized waves propagate unidirectionally along the interface. Switching can occur when these interface modes reach the edge of the lattice and the light splits into waves traveling in two opposite directions. The incoming mode, traveling along the interface, can be adjusted and routed entirely or partially along either lattice edge with the switching direction based on a suitable mixing of the interface modes.

Tunable parity-time symmetry vortex laser from a phase change material-based microcavity

Traditional light sources cannot emit an electromagnetic (EM) field with an orbital angular momentum (OAM), limiting their applications in modern optics. The recent development of the OAM laser, mainly based on micro- and nanostructures, can satisfy the increasing requirements for on-chip photonics and information capacities. Nevertheless, the photonic structures have fixed parameters that prevent these OAM lasers from being dynamically tuned. Here, we propose tunable vortex lasing from a microring cavity integrated by a phase change material, Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST225). By modulating the complex refractive index to create an exceptional point (EP) to break the degeneracy of whispering gallery modes with opposite orientations, the microlaser working at the EP can impart an artificial angular momentum, thus emitting vortex beams with well-defined OAM. The grating scatter on the edge of the microring can provide efficient vertical radiation. The vortex laser wavelength from the GST225/InGaAsP dual-layered microring cavity can be dynamically tuned by switching the state of GST225 between amorphous and crystalline without changing the microring geometry. We construct an electric-thermal model to show the tuning range of operating wavelengths (EPs) from 1544.5 to 1565.9 nm in ~25 ns. Our study on high-speed tunable PT-symmetry vortex lasers facilitates the next generation of integrated optoelectronic devices for optical computing and communications in both classical and quantum regions.

Generation and probing of 3D helical lattices with tunable helix pitch and interface

We propose a method for generation of tunable three-dimensional (3D) helical lattices with varying helix pitch. In order to change only the lattice helix pitch, a periodically varying phase along the propagation direction is added to the central beam - one of the interference beams for lattice construction. The phase periodicity determines the helix pitch, which can be reconfigured at ease. Furthermore, a helical lattice structure with an interface (domain wall) is also achieved by changing the phase structure of the lateral beams, leading to opposite rotating direction (helicity) on different sides of the interface. When a Gaussian beam is used to probe the bulk lattice, it can evolve into a spiral beam with its helicity varying in accordance with that of the lattice. Probing along the interface with two dipole-like optical beams leads to unusual propagation dynamics, depending on the phase and size of the two beams. This approach could be further explored for studies of nonlinear interface solitons and topological interface states. In addition, the helical lattices may find applications in dynamical multi-beam optical tweezers.

Tunable Orbital Angular Momentum Radiation from Angular-Momentum-Biased Microcavities

Lasers and light emitters do not typically radiate fields with orbital angular momentum (OAM). Here we show that a suitable scheme of spatiotemporal modulation of a microring cavity laser can impart a synthetic angular momentum, resulting in beams with well-defined OAM. The phenomenon relies on a traveling wave modulation of the refractive index of the microring, which breaks the degeneracy of oppositely oriented whispering gallery modes. In parallel, a static structural grating on the periphery of the microring enables efficient vertical radiation. The proposed structure is inherently tunable and can also emit fields with zero net OAM while retaining toroidal energy distributions similar to the effect of an axicon lens.