Nontrivial evolution of light in microcavities

Date

Nov 20, 2015

Time

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Speaker

Dr. Libo Ma

Affiliation

IFW Dresden, IIN

Language

en

Main Topic

Materialien

Other Topics

Materialien, Physik

Host

Ulrike Steere

Description

When propagating light experiences spin-orbit coupling or non-trivial topological evolution in parameter space, it acquires Berry phase which plays an important role in a startling variety of physical contexts. This geometric phase has been explored in open light paths by recording polarization rotations in helical waveguides and by measuring the interference fringe shift in a nonplanar Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A closed light path, such as that in whispering-gallery-mode microcavities, was assumed to preclude the existence of Berry phase due to the trivial evolution in parameter space and the absence of spin-orbit coupling. In our recent work, we demonstrated the generation of optical Berry phase in Möbius-ring and cone-shaped microcavities. The occurrence of Berry phase causes light to constructively interfere for a non-integer number of wavelengths – manifesting itself through the appearance of non-integer optical modes. By enabling optical spin-orbit coupling in cone-shaped cavities, we demonstrated non-cyclic optical Berry phase acquired in a non-Abelian evolution. Our work is relevant to fundamental studies and implies promising applications by manipulating photons in on-chip quantum devices.

Links

• Seminars at the IFW

Last modified: Nov 20, 2015, 9:03:41 AM