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Pseudospin-induced chirality with staggered optical graphene.
Jian-Long Liu1,2, Wei-Min Ye1,3, Shuang Zhang1
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Light, Science & Applications
|September 1, 2018
Summary
Researchers explored spin-pseudospin coupling in photonic honeycomb lattices. This interaction induces optical chirality, enabling new designs for spin or valley-selective photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Pseudospin is crucial for phenomena in 2D materials like graphene.
- Orbital angular momentum is an intrinsic property of pseudospin in photonic honeycomb lattices.
- The interaction between spin and pseudospin for light in photonics remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the interaction between optical spin and pseudospin in photonic honeycomb lattices.
- Explore the potential for spin-pseudospin coupling to induce optical chirality.
- Propose novel photonic devices based on pseudospin-mediated spin or valley selectivity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an optical analog of staggered graphene (photonic honeycomb lattice waveguide).
- Introduced in-plane inversion symmetry breaking.
- Analyzed the coupling between pseudospin modes and optical beam spin under specific incident directions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated strong coupling between pseudospin mode and optical beam spin.
- Observed spin-pseudospin coupling via spin-orbit conversion during scattering.
- Induced a significant optical chiral effect in the transmitted beam.
Conclusions:
- Spin-pseudospin coupling of light is achievable in photonic honeycomb lattices.
- This coupling leads to strong optical chirality.
- Opens avenues for designing pseudospin-mediated spin or valley-selective photonic devices.
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