Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths
Abstract Topological on-chip photonics based on tailored photonic crystals (PhCs) that emulate quantum valley-Hall effects has recently gained widespread interest owing to its promise of robust unidirectional transport of classical and quantum information. We present a direct quantitative evaluation...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Light: Science & Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-020-00458-6 |
| _version_ | 1828128264174960640 |
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| author | Sonakshi Arora Thomas Bauer René Barczyk Ewold Verhagen L. Kuipers |
| author_facet | Sonakshi Arora Thomas Bauer René Barczyk Ewold Verhagen L. Kuipers |
| author_sort | Sonakshi Arora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Topological on-chip photonics based on tailored photonic crystals (PhCs) that emulate quantum valley-Hall effects has recently gained widespread interest owing to its promise of robust unidirectional transport of classical and quantum information. We present a direct quantitative evaluation of topological photonic edge eigenstates and their transport properties in the telecom wavelength range using phase-resolved near-field optical microscopy. Experimentally visualizing the detailed sub-wavelength structure of these modes propagating along the interface between two topologically non-trivial mirror-symmetric lattices allows us to map their dispersion relation and differentiate between the contributions of several higher-order Bloch harmonics. Selective probing of forward- and backward-propagating modes as defined by their phase velocities enables direct quantification of topological robustness. Studying near-field propagation in controlled defects allows us to extract upper limits of topological protection in on-chip photonic systems in comparison with conventional PhC waveguides. We find that protected edge states are two orders of magnitude more robust than modes of conventional PhC waveguides. This direct experimental quantification of topological robustness comprises a crucial step toward the application of topologically protected guiding in integrated photonics, allowing for unprecedented error-free photonic quantum networks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:01:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b24e7b2c04f044c2b07aeee5eb6cd8b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-7538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:01:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Light: Science & Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-b24e7b2c04f044c2b07aeee5eb6cd8b82022-12-22T04:14:57ZengNature Publishing GroupLight: Science & Applications2047-75382021-01-011011710.1038/s41377-020-00458-6Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengthsSonakshi Arora0Thomas Bauer1René Barczyk2Ewold Verhagen3L. Kuipers4Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyKavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyCenter for Nanophotonics, AMOLFCenter for Nanophotonics, AMOLFKavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyAbstract Topological on-chip photonics based on tailored photonic crystals (PhCs) that emulate quantum valley-Hall effects has recently gained widespread interest owing to its promise of robust unidirectional transport of classical and quantum information. We present a direct quantitative evaluation of topological photonic edge eigenstates and their transport properties in the telecom wavelength range using phase-resolved near-field optical microscopy. Experimentally visualizing the detailed sub-wavelength structure of these modes propagating along the interface between two topologically non-trivial mirror-symmetric lattices allows us to map their dispersion relation and differentiate between the contributions of several higher-order Bloch harmonics. Selective probing of forward- and backward-propagating modes as defined by their phase velocities enables direct quantification of topological robustness. Studying near-field propagation in controlled defects allows us to extract upper limits of topological protection in on-chip photonic systems in comparison with conventional PhC waveguides. We find that protected edge states are two orders of magnitude more robust than modes of conventional PhC waveguides. This direct experimental quantification of topological robustness comprises a crucial step toward the application of topologically protected guiding in integrated photonics, allowing for unprecedented error-free photonic quantum networks.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-020-00458-6 |
| spellingShingle | Sonakshi Arora Thomas Bauer René Barczyk Ewold Verhagen L. Kuipers Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths Light: Science & Applications |
| title | Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| title_full | Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| title_fullStr | Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| title_short | Direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry-protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| title_sort | direct quantification of topological protection in symmetry protected photonic edge states at telecom wavelengths |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-020-00458-6 |
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