Optics (physics.optics)

Abstract: A coherent XY machine (CXYM) is a physical spin simulator that can simulate the XY model by mapping XY spins onto the continuous phases of non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators (NOPOs). Here, we demonstrated a large-scale CXYM with >47,000 spins by generating 10-GHz-clock time-multiplexed NOPO pulses via four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear fiber inside a fiber ring cavity. By implementing a unidirectional coupling from the i-th pulse to the (i+1)-th pulse with a variable 1-pulse delay planar lightwave circuit interferometer, we successfully controlled the effective temperature of a one-dimensional XY spin network within two orders of magnitude.

Abstract: We further develop the concept of supergrowth [Jordan, Quantum Stud.: Math. Found. $\textbf{7}$, 285-292 (2020)], a phenomenon complementary to superoscillation, defined as the local amplitude growth rate of a function being higher than its largest wavenumber. We identify the superoscillating and supergrowing regions of a canonical oscillatory function and find the maximum values of local growth rate and wavenumber. Next, we provide a quantitative comparison of lengths and relevant intensities between the superoscillating and the supergrowing regions of a canonical oscillatory function. Our analysis shows that the supergrowing regions contain intensities that are exponentially larger in terms of the highest local wavenumber compared to the superoscillating regions. Finally, we prescribe methods to reconstruct a sub-wavelength object from the imaging data using both superoscillatory and supergrowing point spread functions. Our investigation provides an experimentally preferable alternative to the superoscillation based superresolution schemes and is relevant to cutting-edge research in far-field sub-wavelength imaging.

Abstract: Nonlinear optical phenomena play a critical role in understanding microscopic light-matter interactions and have far-reaching applications across various fields, such as biosensing, quantum information, optical switching, and all-optical data processing. Most of these applications require materials with high third-order absorptive and refractive optical nonlinearities. However, most materials show weak nonlinear optical responses due to their perturbative nature and often need to be improved for practical applications. Here, we demonstrate that the charge donor-acceptor hybrid of VSe2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid exhibits enhanced ultrafast third-order absorptive and refractive nonlinearities compared to the pristine systems, at least by one order of magnitude. Through density functional theory and Bader charge analysis, we elucidate the strong electronic coupling in the VSe2-rGO hybrid, involving the transfer of electrons from VSe2 to rGO. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirm the electronic coupling and charge transfer. Furthermore, we fabricate an ultrafast optical limiter device with better performance parameters, such as an onset threshold of 2.5 mJ cm-2 and differential transmittance of 0.42.

Abstract: Optical metasurfaces have been recently explored as ultrathin analog image differentiators. By tailoring the momentum transfer function, they can perform efficient Fourier-filtering - and thus potentially any linear mathematical operation - on an input image, replacing bulky 4f systems. While this approach has been investigated in different platforms, and several techniques have been explored to achieve the required angular response, little effort has been devoted so far to tailor and control also the polarization response of an image-processing metasurface. Here, we show that edge-detection metasurfaces can be designed with tailored polarization responses while simultaneously preserving an isotropic response. In particular, we demonstrate single-layer silicon metasurfaces yielding efficient Laplacian operation on a 2D image with either large polarization asymmetry, or nearly polarization-independent response. In the former case, we show that a strongly asymmetric polarization response can be used to unlock more sophisticated on-the-fly image processing functionalities, such as dynamically tunable direction-dependent edge detection. In parallel, metasurfaces with dual-polarized response are shown to enable efficient operation for unpolarized or arbitrarily polarized images, ensuring high efficiency. For both devices, we demonstrate edge detection within relatively large numerical apertures, with excellent isotropy and intensity throughput. Our study paves the way for the broad use of optical metasurfaces for sophisticated, massively parallel analog image processing with zero energy requirements.

Abstract: The plasmon-mechanical resonators are frequently used in the development of sensors. Active frameworks impose mechanical motion into the lasing dynamics through the use of an optical gain and achieve better sensitivity. Here plasmon-mechanical coupling is demonstrated in a multilayer when a surface plasmon polariton/Fabry-P\'erot hybrid mode is excited in a Kretschmann configuration, while it is observed that the strong plasmonic dispersion allows the deformation of the mechanical domain at several frequencies. After a dye is adsorbed on the surface of the cavity, the layout of the optomechanics is schematized by a spring-mass oscillator mounted onto the surface of the cavity-end mirror. The system is defined by its capability to determine the experimental settings with the best resolution before a controlled experiment in which the oscillator senses a mass. The advantages and disadvantages of the procedure are presented once the data have been assessed and modeled.

Abstract: In this paper, we demonstrate that a few-period circular Bragg reflector around an infinite nanowire can increase the $\beta$ factor of the fundamental mode up to 0.999 due to further suppression of the emission into radiation modes caused by a photonic band gap effect. We then apply this strategy in the practically relevant case of the finite-sized SPS based on tapered nanowires and demonstrate that the collection efficiency can be further increased. Additionally, we also show the beneficial effects of adding optimized high-index rings around the micropillar SPS.

Abstract: Programmable linear optical interferometers are important for classical and quantum information technologies, as well as for building hardware-accelerated artificial neural networks. Recent results showed the possibility of constructing optical interferometers that could implement arbitrary transformations of input fields even in the case of high manufacturing errors. The building of detailed models of such devices drastically increases the efficiency of their practical use. The integral design of interferometers complicates its reconstruction since the internal elements are hard to address. This problem can be approached by using optimization algorithms [Opt. Express 29, 38429 (2021)]. In this paper, we present a novel efficient algorithm based on linear algebra only, which does not use computationally expensive optimization procedures. We show that this approach makes it possible to perform fast and accurate characterization of high-dimensional programmable integrated interferometers. Moreover, the method provides access to the physical characteristics of individual interferometer layers.

Abstract: Various superpositions of Bessel-Gaussian beams and modified Bessel Gaussian beams are considered. Two selected parameters characterizing these beams, with respect to which the superpositions are constructed, are the topological index $n$ associated with the orbital angular momentum carried by the beam, and $\chi$ related to the dilation of the beam. It is shown that, from these modes, by choosing appropriate weighting factors, it is possible to create a number of well- and less-known solutions of the paraxial equation: Gaussian (shifted and non-shifted) beam, $\gamma$ beam, Kummer-Gaussian beam, special hyperbolic Bessel-Gaussian beam, a certain special Laguerre-Gaussian beam, and generalized paraxial beams in hyperbolic and regular versions.

Abstract: Metasurfaces with linear phase gradients can redirect light beams. We propose controlling both phase and amplitude of a metasurface to extend Snell's law to the realm of complex angles, enabling a non-decaying transmission through opaque media with complex refractive indices. This leads to the discovery of non-diffracting and non-decaying solutions to the wave equation in opaque media, in the form of generalised cosine and Bessel-beams with a complex argument. While these solutions present nonphysical exponentially growing side tails, we address this via a windowing process, removing the side tails of the field profile while preserving significant transmission enhancement through an opaque slab on a small localized region. Such refined beam profiles may be synthesized by passive metasurfaces with phase and amplitude control at the opaque material's interface. Our findings, derived from rigorous solutions of the wave equation, promise new insights and enhanced control of light propagation in opaque media.

Abstract: An explicit formula for a new type of beams, which in this work are called the "special" hyperbolic Bessel-Gaussian (SHBG) beams, has been derived, using the method of the Hankel transform formulated in our previous work. The fundamental properties of these beams are analyzed. The parameters that define the beam shape have been identified and related to those of the fundamental Gaussian beam. The analytical expressions for the SHBG beams include an additional parameter $\gamma$, which allows the beam's shape to be modified to some extent. In the plane perpendicular to the propagation direction, these beams exhibit the annular nature. Interestingly, initially (i.e. near the beam's spot) a single ring splits into a number of rings as one is moving along the beam. This is especially apparent for $\gamma$ close to unity, as this effect then appears for values of $z$ relatively small compared to the Rayleigh length i.e., where the energy concentration in the beam is still high. The phase of the wave, whose behavior is in certain aspects typical of modes having the vortex character, is also studied in this paper.