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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Bloch theorem dictated wave chaos in microcavity crystals
Chang-Hwan Yi1, Hee Chul Park2,3, Moon Jip Park4,5
1Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
We reveal how crystal momentum couples to cavity dynamics in periodic lattices, enabling new control over light. This wave chaos generalization introduces dynamical localization and altered mode coupling in cavity lattices.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Wave chaos theory describes complex wave behavior in systems with irregular boundaries.
- Existing models focus on single microcavities, limiting studies of wave dynamics in periodic structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generalize wave chaos theory to periodic cavity lattice systems.
- To investigate the role of crystal momentum in coupled cavity dynamics.
- To explore new methods for controlling light dynamics in periodic photonic structures.
Main Methods:
- Developed a theoretical framework integrating crystal momentum with internal cavity dynamics.
- Analyzed phase space reconfiguration and dynamical localization transitions.
- Investigated the impact of momentum coupling, particularly at the Brillouin zone boundary.
Main Results:
- Discovered intrinsic coupling of crystal momentum to internal cavity dynamics, termed cavity-momentum locking.
- Demonstrated that cavity-momentum locking replaces deformed boundaries in controlling wave chaos.
- Observed phase space reconfiguration leading to dynamical localization and hybridization of scar-mode spinors.
- Found maximal momentum coupling at the Brillouin zone boundary, significantly altering intercavity mode coupling and wave confinement.
Conclusions:
- Pioneered the study of wave chaos in periodic systems, offering a new platform for in situ light dynamics research.
- Cavity-momentum locking provides a novel mechanism for controlling wave chaos and light propagation in lattices.
- The findings have potential applications in advanced photonic devices and light dynamics control.
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