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Design for a Nanoscale Single-Photon Spin Splitter for Modes with Orbital Angular Momentum
G Li1,2, A S Sheremet3, R Ge4
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|August 18, 2018
Summary
We demonstrate efficient separation of spin-up and spin-down photons using spin-orbit coupling in specialized waveguides. This method allows for directional control of photon propagation based on their spin states.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Single photon emitters produce photons with specific spin states.
- Controlling photon propagation based on spin is crucial for quantum technologies.
- Photonic band structures in periodic media offer mechanisms for light manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and verify a method for efficient spin-photon separation.
- To utilize the spin-orbit coupling of light in Bragg-modulated cylindrical waveguides.
- To enable directional control of photon propagation based on spin.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical proposal of using effective spin-orbit coupling of light.
- Employing Bragg-modulated cylindrical waveguides.
- Utilizing spin and directional dependence of photonic stop bands.
- Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical simulations.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated blocking of spin-up (-down) photons in the negative (positive) direction along the waveguide axis.
- Showcased free propagation of the same photons in the opposite direction.
- Verified frequency shifts in photonic band structures induced by spin-orbit coupling via simulations.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method enables efficient separation of spin-up and spin-down photons.
- Bragg-modulated cylindrical waveguides with spin-orbit coupling offer a viable platform for spin-photonics.
- This technique provides directional control critical for quantum information processing.
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