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Adiabatic Dynamics of Edge Waves in Photonic Graphene
TL;DR: In this paper, the propagation of localized edge modes in photonic honeycomb lattices, formed from an array of adiabatically varying periodic helical waveguides, is considered.
Abstract: The propagation of localized edge modes in photonic honeycomb lattices, formed from an array of adiabatically varying periodic helical waveguides, is considered. Asymptotic analysis leads to an explicit description of the underlying dynamics. Depending on parameters, edge states can exist over an entire period or only part of a period; in the latter case an edge mode can effectively disintegrate and scatter into the bulk. In the presence of nonlinearity, a `time'-dependent one-dimensional nonlinear Schr\"odinger (NLS) equation describes the envelope dynamics of edge modes. When the average of the `time varying' coefficients yields a focusing NLS equation, soliton propagation is exhibited. For both linear and nonlinear systems, certain long lived traveling modes with minimal backscattering are found; they exhibit properties of topologically protected states.
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TL;DR: Topological photonics is a rapidly emerging field of research in which geometrical and topological ideas are exploited to design and control the behavior of light as mentioned in this paper, which holds great promise for applications.
Abstract: Topological photonics is a rapidly emerging field of research in which geometrical and topological ideas are exploited to design and control the behavior of light. Drawing inspiration from the discovery of the quantum Hall effects and topological insulators in condensed matter, recent advances have shown how to engineer analogous effects also for photons, leading to remarkable phenomena such as the robust unidirectional propagation of light, which hold great promise for applications. Thanks to the flexibility and diversity of photonics systems, this field is also opening up new opportunities to realize exotic topological models and to probe and exploit topological effects in new ways. This article reviews experimental and theoretical developments in topological photonics across a wide range of experimental platforms, including photonic crystals, waveguides, metamaterials, cavities, optomechanics, silicon photonics, and circuit QED. A discussion of how changing the dimensionality and symmetries of photonics systems has allowed for the realization of different topological phases is offered, and progress in understanding the interplay of topology with non-Hermitian effects, such as dissipation, is reviewed. As an exciting perspective, topological photonics can be combined with optical nonlinearities, leading toward new collective phenomena and novel strongly correlated states of light, such as an analog of the fractional quantum Hall effect.
3,052 citations
21 Mar 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider a family of Schrodinger Hamiltonians consisting of a bulk honeycomb potential and a perturbing edge potential, and show that the topologically protected edge state bifurcation is seeded by the zero-energy eigenstate of a one-dimensional Dirac operator.
Abstract: Edge states are time-harmonic solutions to energy-conserving wave equations, which are propagating parallel to a line-defect or 'edge' and are localized transverse to it. This paper summarizes and extends the authors' work on the bifurcation of topologically protected edge states in continuous two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb structures. We consider a family of Schrodinger Hamiltonians consisting of a bulk honeycomb potential and a perturbing edge potential. The edge potential interpolates between two different periodic structures via a domain wall. We begin by reviewing our recent bifurcation theory of edge states for continuous 2D honeycomb structures (http://arxiv.org/abs/1506.06111). The topologically protected edge state bifurcation is seeded by the zero-energy eigenstate of a one-dimensional Dirac operator. We contrast these protected bifurcations with (more common) non-protected bifurcations from spectral band edges, which are induced by bound states of an effective Schrodinger operator. Numerical simulations for honeycomb structures of varying contrasts and 'rational edges' (zigzag, armchair and others), support the following scenario: (a) for low contrast, under a sign condition on a distinguished Fourier coefficient of the bulk honeycomb potential, there exist topologically protected edge states localized transverse to zigzag edges. Otherwise, and for general edges, we expect long lived edge quasi-modes which slowly leak energy into the bulk. (b) For an arbitrary rational edge, there is a threshold in the medium-contrast (depending on the choice of edge) above which there exist topologically protected edge states. In the special case of the armchair edge, there are two families of protected edge states; for each parallel quasimomentum (the quantum number associated with translation invariance) there are edge states which propagate in opposite directions along the armchair edge.
31 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the existence of stable solitons localized on the hinges of a second-order topological insulator in three dimensions was shown by means of a systematic numerical study, and the soliton propagates along the hinge unidirectionally without changing its shape.
Abstract: Higher-order topological insulators have recently witnessed rapid progress in various fields ranging from condensed matter physics to electric circuits. A well-known higher-order state is the second-order topological insulator in three dimensions with gapless states localized on the hinges. A natural question in the context of nonlinearity is whether solitons can exist on the hinges in a second-order topological insulator. Here we theoretically demonstrate the existence of stable solitons localized on the hinges of a second-order topological insulator in three dimensions when nonlinearity is involved. By means of systematic numerical study, we find that the soliton has strong localization in real space and propagates along the hinge unidirectionally without changing its shape. We further construct an electric network to simulate the second-order topological insulator. When a nonlinear inductor is appropriately involved, we find that the system can support a bright soliton for the voltage distribution demonstrated by stable time evolution of a voltage pulse.
10 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: It is shown that the mechanism responsible for initiating vortex formation is a modulational instability of the amplitude equation, and the role of dissipation in the symmetry breaking process is illustrated.
Abstract: For a dissipative variant of the two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a parabolic trap under rotation, we study a symmetry breaking process that leads to the formation of vortices. The first symmetry breaking leads to the formation of many small vortices distributed uniformly near the Thomas-Fermi radius. The instability occurs as a result of a linear instability of a vortex-free steady state as the rotation is increased above a critical threshold. We focus on the second subsequent symmetry breaking, which occurs in the weakly nonlinear regime. At slightly above threshold, we derive a one-dimensional amplitude equation that describes the slow evolution of the envelope of the initial instability. We show that the mechanism responsible for initiating vortex formation is a modulational instability of the amplitude equation. We also illustrate the role of dissipation in the symmetry breaking process. All analyses are confirmed by detailed numerical computations.
2 citations
TL;DR: In a nonlinear photonic higher-order topological insulator, solitons localize on the corners together with the topological modes as mentioned in this paper, where the topology and nonlinearity are linked to symmetry.
Abstract: Nonlinearity and topology are both linked to symmetries, but what happens when the two are combined is not a trivial question. In a nonlinear photonic higher-order topological insulator, solitons localize on the corners together with the topological modes.
References
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TL;DR: Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments.
Abstract: Graphene is a rapidly rising star on the horizon of materials science and condensed-matter physics. This strictly two-dimensional material exhibits exceptionally high crystal and electronic quality, and, despite its short history, has already revealed a cornucopia of new physics and potential applications, which are briefly discussed here. Whereas one can be certain of the realness of applications only when commercial products appear, graphene no longer requires any further proof of its importance in terms of fundamental physics. Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena, some of which are unobservable in high-energy physics, can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments. More generally, graphene represents a conceptually new class of materials that are only one atom thick, and, on this basis, offers new inroads into low-dimensional physics that has never ceased to surprise and continues to provide a fertile ground for applications.
35,293 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1989TL;DR: The field of nonlinear fiber optics has advanced enough that a whole book was devoted to it as discussed by the authors, which has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian languages, attesting to the worldwide activity in the field.
Abstract: Nonlinear fiber optics concerns with the nonlinear optical phenomena occurring inside optical fibers. Although the field ofnonlinear optics traces its beginning to 1961, when a ruby laser was first used to generate the second-harmonic radiation inside a crystal [1], the use ofoptical fibers as a nonlinear medium became feasible only after 1970 when fiber losses were reduced to below 20 dB/km [2]. Stimulated Raman and Brillouin scatterings in single-mode fibers were studied as early as 1972 [3] and were soon followed by the study of other nonlinear effects such as self- and crossphase modulation and four-wave mixing [4]. By 1989, the field ofnonlinear fiber optics has advanced enough that a whole book was devoted to it [5]. This book or its second edition has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian languages, attesting to the worldwide activity in the field of nonlinear fiber optics.
15,770 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the theoretical foundation for topological insulators and superconductors is reviewed and recent experiments are described in which the signatures of topologically insulators have been observed.
Abstract: Topological insulators are electronic materials that have a bulk band gap like an ordinary insulator but have protected conducting states on their edge or surface. These states are possible due to the combination of spin-orbit interactions and time-reversal symmetry. The two-dimensional (2D) topological insulator is a quantum spin Hall insulator, which is a close cousin of the integer quantum Hall state. A three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator supports novel spin-polarized 2D Dirac fermions on its surface. In this Colloquium the theoretical foundation for topological insulators and superconductors is reviewed and recent experiments are described in which the signatures of topological insulators have been observed. Transport experiments on $\mathrm{Hg}\mathrm{Te}∕\mathrm{Cd}\mathrm{Te}$ quantum wells are described that demonstrate the existence of the edge states predicted for the quantum spin Hall insulator. Experiments on ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$, ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ are then discussed that establish these materials as 3D topological insulators and directly probe the topology of their surface states. Exotic states are described that can occur at the surface of a 3D topological insulator due to an induced energy gap. A magnetic gap leads to a novel quantum Hall state that gives rise to a topological magnetoelectric effect. A superconducting energy gap leads to a state that supports Majorana fermions and may provide a new venue for realizing proposals for topological quantum computation. Prospects for observing these exotic states are also discussed, as well as other potential device applications of topological insulators.
15,562 citations
TL;DR: Graphene has high mobility and optical transparency, in addition to flexibility, robustness and environmental stability as discussed by the authors, and its true potential lies in photonics and optoelectronics, where the combination of its unique optical and electronic properties can be fully exploited, even in the absence of a bandgap, and the linear dispersion of the Dirac electrons enables ultrawideband tunability.
Abstract: The richness of optical and electronic properties of graphene attracts enormous interest. Graphene has high mobility and optical transparency, in addition to flexibility, robustness and environmental stability. So far, the main focus has been on fundamental physics and electronic devices. However, we believe its true potential lies in photonics and optoelectronics, where the combination of its unique optical and electronic properties can be fully exploited, even in the absence of a bandgap, and the linear dispersion of the Dirac electrons enables ultrawideband tunability. The rise of graphene in photonics and optoelectronics is shown by several recent results, ranging from solar cells and light-emitting devices to touch screens, photodetectors and ultrafast lasers. Here we review the state-of-the-art in this emerging field.
6,863 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the Hall voltage of a two-dimensional electron gas, realized with a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor, was measured and it was shown that the Hall resistance at particular, experimentally well-defined surface carrier concentrations has fixed values which depend only on the fine-structure constant and speed of light, and is insensitive to the geometry of the device.
Abstract: Measurements of the Hall voltage of a two-dimensional electron gas, realized with a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, show that the Hall resistance at particular, experimentally well-defined surface carrier concentrations has fixed values which depend only on the fine-structure constant and speed of light, and is insensitive to the geometry of the device. Preliminary data are reported.
5,619 citations