Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields
Abstract Rabi oscillation has been proven to be one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics, triggering substantial investigations in different disciplines and various important applications both in the classical and quantum regimes. So far, two independent classes of wave states in the Rabi oscill...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Light: Science & Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01238-8 |
| _version_ | 1827633059342581760 |
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| author | Guohua Liu Xiliang Zhang Xin Zhang Yanwen Hu Zhen Li Zhenqiang Chen Shenhe Fu |
| author_facet | Guohua Liu Xiliang Zhang Xin Zhang Yanwen Hu Zhen Li Zhenqiang Chen Shenhe Fu |
| author_sort | Guohua Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rabi oscillation has been proven to be one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics, triggering substantial investigations in different disciplines and various important applications both in the classical and quantum regimes. So far, two independent classes of wave states in the Rabi oscillations have been revealed as spin waves and orbital waves, while a Rabi wave state simultaneously merging the spin and orbital angular momentum has remained elusive. Here we report on the experimental and theoretical observation and control of spin–orbit-coupled Rabi oscillations in the higher-order regime of light. We constitute a pseudo spin-1/2 formalism and optically synthesize a magnetization vector through light-crystal interaction. We observe simultaneous oscillations of these ingredients in weak and strong coupling regimes, which are effectively controlled by a beam-dependent synthetic magnetic field. We introduce an electrically tunable platform, allowing fine control of transition between different oscillatory modes, resulting in an emission of orbital-angular-momentum beams with tunable topological structures. Our results constitute a general framework to explore spin–orbit couplings in the higher-order regime, offering routes to manipulating the spin and orbital angular momentum in three and four dimensions. The close analogy with the Pauli equation in quantum mechanics, nonlinear optics, etc., implies that the demonstrated concept can be readily generalized to different disciplines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d155def0ec04a38bcf7437c70549791 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-7538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Light: Science & Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d155def0ec04a38bcf7437c705497912023-11-26T14:17:32ZengNature Publishing GroupLight: Science & Applications2047-75382023-08-0112111310.1038/s41377-023-01238-8Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fieldsGuohua Liu0Xiliang Zhang1Xin Zhang2Yanwen Hu3Zhen Li4Zhenqiang Chen5Shenhe Fu6Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityAbstract Rabi oscillation has been proven to be one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics, triggering substantial investigations in different disciplines and various important applications both in the classical and quantum regimes. So far, two independent classes of wave states in the Rabi oscillations have been revealed as spin waves and orbital waves, while a Rabi wave state simultaneously merging the spin and orbital angular momentum has remained elusive. Here we report on the experimental and theoretical observation and control of spin–orbit-coupled Rabi oscillations in the higher-order regime of light. We constitute a pseudo spin-1/2 formalism and optically synthesize a magnetization vector through light-crystal interaction. We observe simultaneous oscillations of these ingredients in weak and strong coupling regimes, which are effectively controlled by a beam-dependent synthetic magnetic field. We introduce an electrically tunable platform, allowing fine control of transition between different oscillatory modes, resulting in an emission of orbital-angular-momentum beams with tunable topological structures. Our results constitute a general framework to explore spin–orbit couplings in the higher-order regime, offering routes to manipulating the spin and orbital angular momentum in three and four dimensions. The close analogy with the Pauli equation in quantum mechanics, nonlinear optics, etc., implies that the demonstrated concept can be readily generalized to different disciplines.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01238-8 |
| spellingShingle | Guohua Liu Xiliang Zhang Xin Zhang Yanwen Hu Zhen Li Zhenqiang Chen Shenhe Fu Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields Light: Science & Applications |
| title | Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| title_full | Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| title_fullStr | Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| title_short | Spin-orbit Rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| title_sort | spin orbit rabi oscillations in optically synthesized magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01238-8 |
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