[논문 리뷰] Efficient Light Funneling based on the non-Hermitian Skin Effect

Sebastian Weidemann, Mark Kremer외 6명|arXiv (Cornell University)|2020. 04. 04.

Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics참고 문헌 31인용 수 87

한 줄 요약

본 논문은 lattice anisotropy를 설계하여 대규모 photonic mesh에서 non-Hermiticity skin effect를 유도하면 빛이 자극에 관계없이 인터페이스로 강하게 집중된다는 것을 보여준다.

ABSTRACT

In the last two decades, the ubiquitous effect of dissipation has proven to entail astonishing non-Hermitian features, rather than just being an inescapable nuisance. As an alternative route to non-Hermiticity, we tailor the anisotropy of a lattice, which constitutes an, up to now, barely exploited degree of freedom. In this case, the appearance of an interface dramatically alters the entire eigenmode spectrum, leading to the exponential localization of all modes at the interface, which goes beyond the expectations for Hermitian systems. This effect is dubbed "non-Hermitian skin effect". We experimentally demonstrate it by studying the propagation of light in a large scale photonic mesh lattice. For arbitrary excitations, we find that light is always transported to the interface, realizing a highly efficient funnel for light.

연구 동기 및 목표

• Motivate non-Hermiticity as a design tool for photonic systems beyond dissipation.
• Explore how interface-induced spectral changes can localize all eigenmodes at the boundary.
• Demonstrate, experimentally, scalable light funneling in a large photonic lattice.

제안 방법

• Tailor lattice anisotropy to realize non-Hermitian skin effect in a photonic mesh.
• Study propagation of light for arbitrary excitations within the lattice.
• Experimentally observe exponential localization of eigenmodes at an interface.

실험 결과

연구 질문

• RQ1 Can anisotropy-engineered non-Hermitian skin effect cause universal light funneling toward an interface?
• RQ2 Does the skin effect localize all eigenmodes at the interface in a large-scale photonic lattice?
• RQ3 How does the interface influence eigenmode spectrum and light transport for arbitrary excitations?

주요 결과

• Light is transported to the interface for arbitrary excitations, acting as a highly efficient light funnel.
• Interface-induced non-Hermitian skin effect leads to exponential localization of all modes at the interface.
• Experimental demonstration is performed in a large-scale photonic mesh lattice.
• Non-Hermiticity is realized via anisotropy rather than dissipation as a design degree of freedom.