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Invisibility Cloak Printed on a Photonic Chip
Zhen Feng1,2, Bing-Hong Wu1, Yu-Xi Zhao1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, Institute of Natural Sciences &Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Scientific Reports
|June 23, 2016
Summary
Researchers created an invisibility cloak using a 3D array of optical waveguides. This novel waveguide optics approach successfully concealed a millimeter-scale object, paving the way for integrated photonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Invisibility cloaking has been demonstrated using transformation and ray optics by manipulating electromagnetic fields.
- An alternative approach involves creating a spatial cloak by confining electromagnetic fields within waveguide arrays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To realize and demonstrate an invisibility cloak using a three-dimensional arrayed waveguide structure.
- To explore the potential of waveguide optics for cloaking applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 3D waveguide array in borosilicate glass using femtosecond laser direct writing.
- Prototyping structures with up to 5,000 waveguides to conceal millimeter-scale volumes.
- Performance characterization using normalized cross-correlation, tomography analysis, and 3D viewing angle scans.
Main Results:
- Successful demonstration of an invisibility cloak within the waveguide optics domain.
- The fabricated cloak effectively concealed a millimeter-scale volume.
- Characterization confirmed the cloaking performance.
Conclusions:
- Invisibility cloaking is achievable using waveguide optics.
- Directly printed photonic chip cloaks offer potential for controlled studies and novel applications in integrated photonics, including quantum applications.
