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Rabi oscillations and stimulated mode conversion on the subwavelength scale
Optics Express
|April 4, 2015
Summary
Researchers demonstrate controllable light beam transformation in subwavelength structures. Periodic modulation induces Rabi-like oscillations, enabling energy exchange between guided modes for novel optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Subwavelength guiding structures confine light below the diffraction limit.
- Periodic modulation of dielectric permittivity influences light propagation.
- Rabi oscillations describe energy exchange in quantum systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate stimulated mode conversion in periodically modulated subwavelength waveguides.
- Analyze the dynamics of Rabi-like oscillations in guided mode weights.
- Explore controllable transformation of subwavelength light beam structures.
Main Methods:
- Rigorous numerical solution of Maxwell's equations.
- Analysis of dielectric and metallic-dielectric structures.
- Simulation of both linear and nonlinear optical regimes.
Main Results:
- Weak longitudinal modulation couples modes of selected parity.
- Periodic energy exchange between modes is observed, mimicking Rabi oscillations.
- Stimulated mode conversion is achieved in dielectric and plasmonic waveguides.
Conclusions:
- Controllable transformation of subwavelength light beams is feasible.
- The phenomenon is robust in both dielectric and metallic-dielectric structures.
- Applications in manipulating light at the nanoscale are possible.
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