Propagating dimensions of light: Deforming versatile non-diffractive beams along the optical trajectory

Phys.org  April 8, 2024 Despite the numerous types of non-diffraction beam generation technologies, the 3D deformation and intricate wavefront shaping of structures during propagation have yet to be studied through the lens of nanophotonic devices. An international team of researchers (Singapore, Spain) demonstrated the dynamic conversion of a circular Airy beam (CAB) to a Bessel beam with a single-layer spin-selective metasurface. The spatial transformation developed from the interplay of 1D local and 2D global phases, facilitating the 3D control of non-diffractive light fields. Overall phase gradient and orbital angular momentum altered the propagation direction and transverse fields of complex amplitude […]

Researchers use structured light on a chip in another photonics breakthrough

Phys.org  May 17, 2023 Despite recent demonstrations of various topological photonic phases, the full potential offered by Dirac photonic systems, specifically their ability to emulate the spin degree of freedom—referred to as pseudo-spin—beyond topological boundary modes has remained underexplored. An international team of researcher (USA – City College of New York, AFRL (Eglin AFB), Australia) showed an example of relativistic-like trapping in photonic system that realizes Dirac-like dispersion with spatially inhomogeneous mass term. The modes trapped by such cavities, their energy levels, and corresponding orbitals were characterized through optical imaging in real and momentum space. The fabricated cavities hosted a […]