Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold
Abstract Recent studies on exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian optical systems have revealed unique traits, including unidirectional invisibility, chiral mode switching and laser self-termination. In systems featuring gain/loss components, EPs are commonly accessed below the lasing threshold,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43874-z |
| _version_ | 1797388197698732032 |
|---|---|
| author | Kaiwen Ji Qi Zhong Li Ge Gregoire Beaudoin Isabelle Sagnes Fabrice Raineri Ramy El-Ganainy Alejandro M. Yacomotti |
| author_facet | Kaiwen Ji Qi Zhong Li Ge Gregoire Beaudoin Isabelle Sagnes Fabrice Raineri Ramy El-Ganainy Alejandro M. Yacomotti |
| author_sort | Kaiwen Ji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent studies on exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian optical systems have revealed unique traits, including unidirectional invisibility, chiral mode switching and laser self-termination. In systems featuring gain/loss components, EPs are commonly accessed below the lasing threshold, i.e., in the linear regime. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate that EP singularities in coupled semiconductor nanolasers can be accessed above the lasing threshold, where they become branch points of a nonlinear dynamical system. Contrary to the common belief that unavoidable cavity detuning impedes the formation of EPs, here we demonstrate that such detuning is necessary for compensating the carrier-induced frequency shift, hence restoring the EP. Furthermore, we find that the pump imbalance at lasing EPs varies with the total pump power, enabling their continuous tracking. This work uncovers the unstable nature of EPs above laser threshold in coupled semiconductor lasers, offering promising opportunities for the realization of self-pulsing nanolaser devices and frequency combs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:37:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-577e2885be5e45889326b8ca8c44e5ea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:37:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-577e2885be5e45889326b8ca8c44e5ea2023-12-17T12:24:00ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-12-011411910.1038/s41467-023-43874-zTracking exceptional points above the lasing thresholdKaiwen Ji0Qi Zhong1Li Ge2Gregoire Beaudoin3Isabelle Sagnes4Fabrice Raineri5Ramy El-Ganainy6Alejandro M. Yacomotti7Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayDepartment of Physics, Michigan Technological UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, College of Staten Island, CUNYCentre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayCentre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayCentre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayDepartment of Physics, Michigan Technological UniversityCentre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayAbstract Recent studies on exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian optical systems have revealed unique traits, including unidirectional invisibility, chiral mode switching and laser self-termination. In systems featuring gain/loss components, EPs are commonly accessed below the lasing threshold, i.e., in the linear regime. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate that EP singularities in coupled semiconductor nanolasers can be accessed above the lasing threshold, where they become branch points of a nonlinear dynamical system. Contrary to the common belief that unavoidable cavity detuning impedes the formation of EPs, here we demonstrate that such detuning is necessary for compensating the carrier-induced frequency shift, hence restoring the EP. Furthermore, we find that the pump imbalance at lasing EPs varies with the total pump power, enabling their continuous tracking. This work uncovers the unstable nature of EPs above laser threshold in coupled semiconductor lasers, offering promising opportunities for the realization of self-pulsing nanolaser devices and frequency combs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43874-z |
| spellingShingle | Kaiwen Ji Qi Zhong Li Ge Gregoire Beaudoin Isabelle Sagnes Fabrice Raineri Ramy El-Ganainy Alejandro M. Yacomotti Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold Nature Communications |
| title | Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| title_full | Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| title_fullStr | Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| title_short | Tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| title_sort | tracking exceptional points above the lasing threshold |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43874-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaiwenji trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT qizhong trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT lige trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT gregoirebeaudoin trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT isabellesagnes trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT fabriceraineri trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT ramyelganainy trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold AT alejandromyacomotti trackingexceptionalpointsabovethelasingthreshold |