Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
11:08
Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Quasi-BLOCH oscillations in curved coupled optical waveguides
Arash Joushaghani1, Rajiv Iyer, Joyce K S Poon
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Optical Science, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G4, Canada. arash.joushaghani@utoronto.ca
Physical Review Letters
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Researchers observed quasi-Bloch oscillations, a new dynamic localization phenomenon, in curved optical waveguide arrays. This light behavior shows robust, wavelength-dependent localization, differing from standard dynamic localization.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nonlinear Dynamics
Background:
- Dynamic localization describes the confinement of wave packets in disordered systems.
- Coupled optical waveguide arrays provide a platform for simulating quantum phenomena.
- Quasi-Bloch oscillations are a theoretical prediction for light propagation in specific waveguide structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally observe and characterize quasi-Bloch oscillations in a curved coupled optical waveguide array.
- To investigate the spatial evolution and localization dynamics of light beams.
- To compare the observed phenomenon with conventional dynamic localization and theoretical predictions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a curved coupled optical waveguide array.
- Injection of a light beam into the array and observation of its spatial intensity profile at various propagation distances.
- Analysis of beam delocalization and relocalization.
- Comparison of experimental results with theoretical models and data from different waveguide structures.
Main Results:
- Experimental observation of quasi-Bloch oscillations, characterized by beam delocalization and subsequent relocalization.
- Demonstration that the observed dynamic localization is robust and persists beyond the nearest-neighbor tight-binding approximation.
- Identification of a unique wavelength dependence for this localization, distinct from conventional dynamic localization.
Conclusions:
- Quasi-Bloch oscillations are experimentally confirmed in curved coupled optical waveguide arrays.
- This phenomenon represents a novel form of dynamic localization with distinct properties.
- The findings offer new insights into light propagation dynamics and localization in engineered optical systems.
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:
01:30Oscillations 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
01:07Damped 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.
02:18Interference and Diffraction
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
01:07Propagation of Waves
When a wave propagates from one medium to another, part of it may get reflected in the first medium, and part of it may get transmitted to the second medium. In such a case, the interface of the two mediums can be considered as a boundary that is neither fixed nor free.
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...