Fast encirclement of an exceptional point for highly efficient and compact chiral mode converters

Xiaoqian Shu, Aodong Li, Guangwei Hu, Jian Wang (), Andrea Alù () and Lin Chen ()
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Xiaoqian Shu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Aodong Li: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Guangwei Hu: National University of Singapore
Jian Wang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Andrea Alù: City University of New York
Lin Chen: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Exceptional points (EPs) are degeneracies at which two or more eigenvalues and eigenstates of a physical system coalesce. Dynamically encircling EPs by varying the parameters of a non-Hermitian system enables chiral mode switching, that is, the final state of the system upon a closed loop in parameter space depends on the encircling handedness. In conventional schemes, the parametric evolution during the encircling process has to be sufficiently slow to ensure adiabaticity. Here, we show that fast parametric evolution along the parameter space boundary of the system Hamiltonian can relax this constraint. The proposed scheme enables highly efficient transmission and more compact footprint for asymmetric mode converters. We experimentally demonstrate these principles in a 57 μm-long double-coupled silicon waveguide system, enabling chiral mode switching with near-unity transmission efficiency at 1550 nm. This demonstration paves the way towards high-efficiency and highly integrated chiral mode switching for a wide range of practical applications.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29777-5

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