Open AccessMimicking an expanding universe by optical interference in a helicoid waveguide
Author(s) -
Guo-Hua Liang,
Rong Cai,
YinZhe Ma,
Runqiu He,
Shining Zhu,
Hui Liu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.392564
Subject(s) - helicoid , optics , physics , waveguide , interference (communication) , computer science , telecommunications , geometry , channel (broadcasting) , mathematics
According to modern cosmology, expansion of the universe is due to the metric changing of spacetime itself. Here, we propose to mimic an expanding universe by utilizing optical interference and helicoid waveguides. The evolution of interference pattern in the helicoid waveguide is investigated theoretically and experimentally. For precise measurements, we design an air helicoid waveguide which allows us to investigate the wave front of laser beams from the waveguide. Redshift of a Gaussian wave packet in the expanding universe is demonstrated with high precision, showing that the helicoid waveguide acts as a parabolic gradient index lens exactly. The proposed waveguide structure can be used as an efficient waveguide adapter.