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Topological phase transitions and Thouless pumping of light in photonic waveguide arrays (Laser Photonics Rev. 10(6)/2016)
Author(s) -
Ke Yongguan,
Qin Xizhou,
Mei Feng,
Zhong Honghua,
Kivshar Yuri S.,
Lee Chaohong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
laser and photonics reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.778
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1863-8899
pISSN - 1863-8880
DOI - 10.1002/lpor.201670069
Subject(s) - waveguide , photonics , physics , optics , gaussian beam , transverse plane , phase (matter) , topology (electrical circuits) , laser , optoelectronics , beam (structure) , quantum mechanics , mathematics , structural engineering , combinatorics , engineering
Topological phase transitions in the generalized Aubry‐Andre‐Harper (AAH) photonic waveguide arrays have been explored. There exist exotic topological phases of large Chern numbers, which are difficult to be observed in electronic systems. A simple scheme to probe bulk Chern number is proposed via Thouless pumping of light in modulated waveguide arrays. The cover image shows the idea of Thouless pumping of light in modulated waveguide arrays, where the refractive indices are periodically modulated along both transverse and propagation directions. The input state can be prepared by injecting a Gaussian laser beam into a single waveguide with the largest refractive index. The light will follow the trajectory denoted by blue dashed line in the waveguide arrays. The transverse center of the light field shifts one three‐waveguide cell in one pumping cycle, which is determined by the Chern number of the filled band. (Picture: Yongguan Ke et al., 10.1002/lpor.201600143 pp. 995–1001, in this issue)