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Updated: May 11, 2026
10:35
Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Topologically protected midgap states in complex photonic lattices.
1Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK. h.schomerus@lancs.ac.uk
Optics Letters
|June 1, 2013
Summary
Engineered photonic crystals with gain and loss create protected localized states. These states can be amplified for applications in photonic lattices and lasing.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Topological Materials
Background:
- Photonic crystals are engineered materials with periodic structures that control light propagation.
- Key design goals include manipulating photonic band gaps and creating localized defect states.
- Understanding and controlling localized states is crucial for advanced optical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the formation of topologically protected localized midgap states.
- To investigate systems with spatially distributed gain and loss for state engineering.
- To explore applications of these localized states in photonic systems.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical description of localized midgap state formation.
- Analysis of systems incorporating spatially distributed gain and loss.
- Investigation of selective amplification properties of these states.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated formation of topologically protected localized midgap states.
- Showcased selective amplification of these engineered states.
- Identified potential applications in photonic lattices and quasi-one-dimensional photonic crystal lasers.
Conclusions:
- Topologically protected localized midgap states can be formed in photonic systems with gain and loss.
- Selective amplification of these states offers new possibilities for optical control.
- These findings have implications for beam dynamics and laser design in photonic crystals.
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