Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
09:10
Fabrication and Testing of Microfluidic Optomechanical Oscillators
Published on: May 29, 2014
Tamm oscillations in semi-infinite nonlinear waveguide arrays
Milutin Stepi1, Eugene Smirnov, Christian E Rüter
1Institute of Physics and Physical Technologies, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
Optics Letters
|March 7, 2007
Summary
We show nonlinear Tamm oscillations occur at waveguide array interfaces. Light gets trapped at the boundary due to edge potential and Bragg reflection, forming these unique nonlinear optical phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Condensed matter physics
- Photonics
Background:
- Tamm states and Tamm oscillations are typically observed at interfaces.
- Waveguide arrays provide a platform for simulating condensed matter phenomena.
- Nonlinearity can significantly alter wave propagation and localization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and characteristics of nonlinear Tamm oscillations.
- To explore the role of different nonlinearities (cubic, saturable) and their types (self-focusing, self-defocusing).
- To understand the underlying physical mechanisms of light trapping at the interface.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of light propagation in a one-dimensional waveguide array with nonlinear interfaces.
- Numerical simulations to observe and analyze the predicted nonlinear Tamm oscillations.
- Analysis of the interplay between edge potential and Bragg reflection.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the existence of nonlinear Tamm oscillations at the substrate-waveguide array interface.
- Showed that light is trapped near the array boundary.
- Identified the dependence of these oscillations on the type and strength of nonlinearity.
- Observed that in the linear limit, these oscillations reduce to surface Bloch oscillations.
Conclusions:
- Nonlinear Tamm oscillations are a valid phenomenon at nonlinear interfaces in waveguide arrays.
- The interplay of edge potential and Bragg reflection is crucial for light localization.
- This work extends the concept of Tamm states to nonlinear optical systems, opening new avenues for light control.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Standing Waves in a Cavity
A household microwave and lasers are examples of standing electromagnetic waves in a cavity. When two conducting metal plates are placed parallel at the nodal planes, it creates a cavity where standing waves are formed. The cavity between the two planes is analogous to a stretched string held at the points x = 0 and x = L. Here, the distance 'L' between the two planes must be an integer multiple of half of the wavelength. The wavelengths that satisfy this condition are given by:
01:31Oscillations In An LC Circuit
An idealized LC circuit of zero resistance can oscillate without any source of emf by shifting the energy stored in the circuit between the electric and magnetic fields. In such an LC circuit, if the capacitor contains a charge q before the switch is closed, then all the energy of the circuit is initially stored in the electric field of the capacitor. This energy is given by
01:03Modes of Standing Waves - I
A close look at earthquakes provides evidence for the conditions appropriate for resonance, standing waves, and constructive and destructive interference. A building may vibrate for several seconds with a driving frequency matching the building's natural frequency of vibration; this produces a resonance that results in one building collapsing while the neighboring buildings do not. Often, buildings of a certain height are devastated, while other taller buildings remain intact. This phenomenon...
01:07Damped Oscillations
In the real world, oscillations seldom follow true simple harmonic motion. A system that continues its motion indefinitely without losing its amplitude is termed undamped. However, friction of some sort usually dampens the motion, so it fades away or needs more force to continue. For example, a guitar string stops oscillating a few seconds after being plucked. Similarly, one must continually push a swing to keep a child swinging on a playground.
Although friction and other non-conservative...
Although friction and other non-conservative...
01:04Modes of Standing Waves: II
The starting point for expressing the modes of standing waves is understanding the boundary conditions that the waves must follow. The boundary conditions are derived from the physical understanding of how the standing waves are sustained, that is, how the vibrating particles of the medium behave at the boundaries imposed on them.
For a tube open at one end and closed at the other filled with air, the modes are such that there is always an antinode at the open end and a node at the closed end.
For a tube open at one end and closed at the other filled with air, the modes are such that there is always an antinode at the open end and a node at the closed end.
01:20Types of Damping
If the amount of damping in a system is gradually increased, the period and frequency start to become affected because damping opposes, and hence slows, the back and forth motion (the net force is smaller in both directions). If there is a very large amount of damping, the system does not even oscillate; instead, it slowly moves toward equilibrium. In brief, an overdamped system moves slowly towards equilibrium, whereas an underdamped system moves quickly to equilibrium but will oscillate about...