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Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
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Nonlinearity-induced photonic topological insulator
Lukas J Maczewsky1, Matthias Heinrich1, Mark Kremer1
1Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 23, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 6, 2020
Summary
We show that optical nonlinearity can induce a topological phase in a photonic system. This transition creates a protected edge transport channel, enabling on-demand control of topological features.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- Topological insulators exhibit robust edge transport, protected from defects and disorder.
- Conventional topological phases are typically linear and static.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a topological system where nonlinearity induces a topological phase.
- To explore the control of topological properties in the nonlinear regime.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a photonic platform with a specific lattice structure.
- Investigating the system's behavior in both linear and nonlinear optical regimes.
- Analyzing the transition to a topologically nontrivial phase driven by optical power.
Main Results:
- The photonic lattice is topologically trivial in the linear regime.
- Above a power threshold, optical nonlinearity drives the system into a topologically nontrivial phase.
- A protected, unidirectional edge transport channel emerges transiently during this transition.
Conclusions:
- Optical nonlinearity can dynamically induce topological phases.
- This provides a route for developing controllable, compact topological devices.
- The findings open new avenues for studying topological properties in nonlinear systems.
