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arXiv:2501.00347 · Nature Communications

Observation of nonreciprocal transverse localization of light

Shun Ke Liang, Changchang Li, Zhenzhi Liu, Wenqing Yu, Changbiao Li, Yanpeng Zhang, G. Malpuech, Dmitry D. Solnyshkov, Hui Jing, Zhaoyang Zhang

Published Nov 21, 2025• 18 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Magnetic-free nonreciprocal optical devices that prevent backscattering of signals are essential for optical information processing. The achieved nonreciprocal behaviors mostly rely on various optical dispersive effects, leading to dispersive modulations of the spatial beam profiles, such as broadening and discretization, of incident signals. Such deformation inevitably reduces the matching with subsequent functional components. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the nonreciprocal transverse localization of light in a moiré photonic lattice in atomic vapors. When the probe field co- or counter-propagates with the forward coupling field with a honeycomb moiré profile, the output pattern can exhibit localized or dispersive behavior. The nonreciprocal behaviors (in both beam size and transmitted intensity) are from the atomic thermal motion. A backward Gaussian coupling field is also introduced to modulate the size and intensity of the backward probe, which experiences dispersive propagation. The current work provides an approach to control the transverse beam profile in nonreciprocal transmission. The authors demonstrate nonreciprocal transverse localisation of light in a reconfigurable moiré photonic lattice within a rubidium atomic vapor under electromagnetic-induced transparency conditions. This shows selective control of localised or dispersive optical features.

DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-65084-5

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Magnetic-free nonreciprocal optical devices that prevent backscattering of signals are essential for optical information processing. The achieved nonreciprocal behaviors mostly rely on various optical dispersive effects, leading to dispersive modulations of the spatial beam profiles, such as broadening and discretization, of incident signals. Such deformation inevitably reduces the matching with subsequent functional components. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the nonreciprocal transverse localization of light in a moiré photonic lattice in atomic vapors. When the probe field co- or counter-propagates with the forward coupling field with a honeycomb moiré profile, the output pattern can exhibit localized or dispersive behavior. The nonreciprocal behaviors (in both beam size and transmitted intensity) are from the atomic thermal motion. A backward Gaussian coupling field is also introduced to modulate the size and intensity of the backward probe, which experiences dispersive propagation. The current work provides an approach to control the transverse beam profile in nonreciprocal transmission. The authors demonstrate nonreciprocal transverse localisation of light in a reconfigurable moiré photonic lattice within a rubidium atomic vapor under electromagnetic-induced transparency conditions. This shows selective control of localised or dispersive optical features.
Multi-band signal propagation and processing play an important role in quantum communications and quantum computing.In recent years, optical nonreciprocal devices such as an optical isolator and circulator are proposed via various configurations of atoms, metamaterials, nonlinear waveguides, etc.In this work, we investigate all-optical controlled nonreciprocity of multi-band optical signals in thermal atomic systems.Via introducing multiple strong coupling fields, nonreciprocal propagation of the probe field can happen at some separated frequency bands, which results from combination of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect and atomic thermal motion.In the proposed configuration, the frequency shift resulting from atomic thermal motion takes converse effect on the probe field in the two opposite directions.In this way, the probe field can propagate almost transparently within some frequency bands of EIT windows in the opposite direction of the coupling fields.However, it is well blocked within the considered frequency region in the same direction of the coupling fields because of destruction of the EIT.Such selectable optical nonreciprocity and isolation for discrete signals may be greatly useful in controlling signal transmission and realizing selective optical isolation functions.
As an optical structure characterized by modulations in both transverse and longitudinal directions, the curved photonic lattice has been widely utilized to mimic the behaviors of electrons that are challenging to observe directly. Within the framework of quantum-optical analogies, such a mimicking approach offers additional degrees of freedom for manipulating the dynamics of light. Here, we report the realization of curved photonic lattices in atomic vapors by employing the phase difference in a two-beam interference configuration. The phase difference is introduced via an electro-optic modulator. A weak Gaussian probe field is sent into the curved photonic lattice to image the constructed structure in the context of electromagnetically induced transparency both experimentally and theoretically. In the case of sinusoidal modulation of the phase difference, the transverse oscillation of the output probe pattern is observed clearly, indicating the instantaneous and accurate control of the curved photonic lattice. It is also found that the modulation frequency can play an important role in synthesizing flat bands. This work not only presents a convenient way for producing curved photonic lattices with reconfigurability, but also puts forward a promising platform to investigate quantum-optical analogies in atomic vapors.
By taking advantage of the optical induction method, a non-Hermitian photonic graphene lattice is efficiently established inside an atomic vapor cell under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency. This non-Hermitian structure is accomplished by simultaneously modulating both the real and imaginary components of the refractive index into honeycomb profiles. The transmitted probe field can either exhibit a hexagonal or honeycomb intensity profile when the degree of non-Hermiticity is effectively controlled by the ratio between imaginary and real indices. The experimental realization of such an instantaneously tunable complex honeycomb potential sets a new platform for future experimental exploration of non-Hermitian topological photonics. Also, we demonstrate the Talbot effect of the transmitted probe patterns. Such a self-imaging effect based on a non-Hermitian structure provides a promising route to potentially improve the related applications, such as an all-optical-controllable Talbot–Lau interferometer.
We theoretically investigate narrowband nonreciprocal transmission in a Doppler-broadened five-level M-type atomic medium. After Doppler averaging, the M-type system retains a narrow near-resonant electromagnetically induced transparency window that is narrower than that of a standard three-level ΛΛΛ system. This spectral narrowing is associated with the decreasing separation between the two inner dressed states as atomic velocity increases. The transparency window exhibits pronounced direction-dependent transmission, with high forward transmission and strong suppression in the reverse direction. The transparency linewidth and forward-backward probe transmission can be controlled via two independent driving fields, while the central transparency frequency is kept essentially unchanged. The resulting narrowband nonreciprocity supports high forward transmission together with strong suppression in the reverse direction, which is suitable for frequency-selective optical filtering and nonreciprocal optical transmission in thermal atomic media. Our scheme with these specific features is geared towards enabling compact vapor-cell-based nonreciprocal devices for quantum network applications.
The photonic graphene in atoms not only has the typical photonic band structures but also exhibits controllable optical properties that are difficult to achieve in the natural graphene. Here, the evolution process of discrete diffraction patterns of a photonic graphene, which is constructed through a three-beam interference, is demonstrated experimentally in a 5 S 1/2 − 5 P 3/2 − 5 D 5/2 85 Rb atomic vapor. The input probe beam experiences a periodic refractive index modulation when traveling through the atomic vapor, and the evolution of output patterns with honeycomb, hybrid-hexagonal, and hexagonal geometric profiles is obtained by controlling the experimental parameters of two-photon detuning and the power of the coupling field. Moreover, the Talbot images of such three kinds of periodic structure patterns at different propagating planes are observed experimentally. This work provides an ideal platform to investigate manipulation the propagation of light in artificial photonic lattices with tunable periodically varying refractive index.
In this Letter, we have investigated experimentally the photonic realization of a moving lattice with an instantaneously tunable transverse velocity in a three-level Λ -type warm 85 R b atomic medium. The dynamic photonic lattice moving along the direction of its spatial periodicity was constructed by introducing a frequency difference (determining the velocity) between two coupling beams, whose interference pattern could optically induce a (spatial) periodic refractive index change inside the atomic vapor under electromagnetically induced transparency. When a Gaussian probe field is launched into this optically induced lattice, the output diffraction patterns can shift along the transverse direction, indicating dynamical features of induced photonic structures. The realization of this effectively controllable moving photonic lattice provides a new platform for guiding the transport of light.