Supersymmetry in Optics & Photonics
Abstract
Symmetries play a fundamental role in nature. They dictate conservations principles of fundamental quantities like energy and momentum, and are crucial in understanding the physical laws of the world we live in. Quite recently, the concept of supersymmetry (SUSY) has been introduced in the realm of optics and photonics. While in its quantum mechanical embodiment, SUSY is meant to treat fermions and bosons on equal footing, in optics these same supersymmetric transformations can establish an iso-spectrality between two seemingly dissimilar objects. Here we propose to exploit the intriguing features of this supersymmetric iso-spectrality in order to develop efficient strategies in designing novel classes of complex photonic materials, structures, and systems, with desired properties and functionalities- some of them not attainable in standard arrangements. In particular, our efforts will be directed along the following lines: (i) large-scale super-symmetric laser arrays operating in the preferred lowest-order mode; (ii) SUSY-like Lanczos transformations that could in turn enable us to locally monitor highly complex large scale networks-even in the nonlinear domain; (iii) development of vectorial transformation optics capable of synthesizing objects with identical reflection and transmission characteristics, down to the phase, for all angles of incidence Ð thus rendering them perfectly indistinguishable to an external observer; and (iv) exploring the ramifications of SUSY notions in topological photonics. In all cases, we will investigate these aspects in conservative Hermitian arrangements as well as in non-Hermitian systems involving both gain and loss, like those for example respecting parity-time symmetry. The interplay between SUSY and nonlinearity will also be investigated during the course of this work. The tasks proposed here will range from fundamental theoretical aspects, to structure/device design and fabrication, to experimental demonstrations, and prototype system assembly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710481
Entities
People
- Demetrios N. Christodoulides
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Central Florida