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Realizing quasi-monochromatic switchable thermal emission from electro-optically induced topological phase
Nitish Kumar Gupta1, Sapireddy Srinivasu2, Anjani Kumar Tiwari3
1Centre for Lasers & Photonics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, India. nitishkg@iitk.ac.in.
Scientific Reports
|May 5, 2022
Summary
Researchers engineered a mid-infrared thermal emitter using topological interface states. This novel design allows for ultrafast switching of thermal radiation, offering precise control over optical characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Topological photonics
- Condensed matter physics
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Topological materials offer unique properties for light manipulation.
- Engineering topological states in photonic systems is an active research area.
- Controlling thermal emission is crucial for advanced optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and investigate a mid-infrared thermal emitter based on topological interface states.
- To achieve ultrafast switching of thermal radiation for emission engineering.
- To explore the potential of electro-optic effect-induced topological phase transitions.
Main Methods:
- Numerical investigation of a quasi-monochromatic, highly directional mid-infrared source.
- Utilizing inversion symmetry-protected topological interface states.
- Employing electro-optic effect-induced topological phase transitions for switching.
- Modeling the platform as a leaky mode resonator using temporal coupled-mode theory.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a quasi-monochromatic, highly directional mid-infrared source.
- Achieved ultrafast switching of thermal radiation with a modulation depth up to 0.99.
- Exhibited a near-perfect extinguishable spectral emission peak with a high quality factor (>18500).
- Observed polarized emission due to the polarization-dependent nature of the interface state.
Conclusions:
- The proposed platform enables precise control over infrared thermal emitters.
- Ultrafast switching of thermal radiation is achievable via topological phase transitions.
- This work paves the way for advanced thermal emission engineering.
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