Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:physics/0612172 · Physical Review E

Stopping and time reversal of light in dynamic photonic structures via Bloch oscillations

Stefano Longhi

Published Feb 9, 2007• 45 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

It is theoretically shown that storage and time reversal of light pulses can be achieved in a coupled-resonator optical waveguide by dynamic tuning of the cavity resonances without maintaining the translational invariance of the system. The control exploits the Bloch oscillation motion of a light pulse in the presence of a refractive index ramp, and it is therefore rather different from the mechanism of adiabatic band compression and reversal proposed by Yanik and Fan in recent works [Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 083901 (2004); 93, 173903 (2004)].

DOI
10.1103/physreve.75.026606

Related papers

Pulse time reversal and stopping by a refractive index front

Mahmoud Gaafar, Jannik Holtorf, Manfred Eich +1 more

We discuss how dynamic light stopping and pulse time reversal can be implemented in dispersive waveguides via indirect photonic transitions induced by moving refractive index fronts. The previous concepts of light stopping/time reversal either require complex local variation of the device’s refractive index or rely on the strict phase matching condition, which imposes limitations on the amount of manipulated information. Until now, only single pulses or continuous waves were manipulated experimentally. Our scheme is not limited by a strict phase matching condition and does not require local index variations, thus it can manipulate broadband signals in a single step process. Here, we present several numerically integrated results for pulse time reversal and stopping/storage via indirect front-induced transitions. The presented results are experimentally feasible using existing photonic waveguide technologies.

APL Photonics•Aug 1, 2020•12 citations

Stopping Light in a Waveguide with an All-Optical Analog of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

Mehmet Fatih Yanik, Wonjoo Suh, Zheng Wang +1 more

We introduce a new all-optical mechanism that can compress the bandwidth of light pulses to absolute zero, and bring them to a complete stop. The mechanism can be realized in a system consisting of a waveguide side coupled to tunable resonators, which generates a photonic band structure that represents a classical analogue of the electromagnetically induced transparency. The same system can also achieve a time-reversal operation. We demonstrate the operation of such a system by finite-difference time-domain simulations of an implementation in photonic crystals.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 1, 2004•458 citations

All-optical coherent stopping, storage, and time-reversal of light

Mehmet Fatih Yanik, Shanhui Fan

We show that the use of tunable photonic structures opens up unprecedented possibilities in information processing. In particular, we introduce an all-optical adiabatic bandwidth compression and frequency conversion process that overcomes the classical bandwidth-delay constraint in optics. This process requires only very small index modulations (δn/n<10-4) performed at moderate speeds, and yet can alter the spectrum of a photon almost at will. As examples of this process, we show how light pulses can be stopped and stored all-optically in multitude of systems without using any resonant or coherent electronic interactions. We also show how light pulses can be time-reversed using only linear optical elements and modulators. Such systems open up new opportunities in both fundamental sciences and technological applications.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 25, 2004•0 citations

Light stopping by reflection from a moving index front

Mahmoud Gaafar, Jannik Holtorf, Manfred Eich +1 more

Nonlinearly generated refractive index fronts in waveguides can change the signal frequency and wavenumber leading to the indirect transitions. Here, we discuss how dynamic light stopping and pulse time reversal can be implemented in dispersive waveguides via these transitions. Our scheme, in contrast to previous concepts of light stopping and time reversal, is not limited by a strict phase matching condition and does not require local index variations, thus, can manipulate broadband signals in a single step process. The presented results are experimentally feasible using existing photonic waveguides technologies.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Nanophotonics: Stopping Light, Nonreciprocity, and Metamaterials

Shanhui Fan, Mehmet Fatih Yanik, Z. Wang +3 more

In this paper we review our recent works in developing photonic crystals and nanophotonic structures for the control of light. We show that dynamic crystal structures, in which the refractive index of the material is modulated by a small extent while a photon pulse is in the crystal, can be used to stop, store and even time-reverse light pulses [ 1][ 2][ 3]. We also show that by incorporating magneto-optical effects into the crystal structures, the reciprocity of light can be broken, resulting in uni-directional devices that are extremely compact [ 4]. And finally, by exploiting sub-wavelength electromagnetic resonances in meta structures, new meta-materials can be created. These materials feature frequency-independent refractive index that is controlled by geometry and can be arbitrarily large [ 5]. Such materials can be of importance for integrated optics and image sensing applications.

•Jan 18, 2006•0 citations

Stopping and time reversing a light pulse using dynamic loss tuning of coupled-resonator delay lines

Sunil Sandhu, Michelle L. Povinelli, Shanhui Fan

We introduce a light-stopping process that uses dynamic loss tuning in coupled-resonator delay lines. We demonstrate via numerical simulations that increasing the loss of selected resonators traps light in a zero group velocity mode concentrated in the low-loss portions of the delay line. The large dynamic range achievable for loss modulation should increase the light-stopping bandwidth relative to previous approaches based on refractive index tuning.

Optics Letters•Nov 12, 2007•35 citations
It is theoretically shown that storage and time reversal of light pulses can be achieved in a coupled-resonator optical waveguide by dynamic tuning of the cavity resonances without maintaining the translational invariance of the system. The control exploits the Bloch oscillation motion of a light pulse in the presence of a refractive index ramp, and it is therefore rather different from the mechanism of adiabatic band compression and reversal proposed by Yanik and Fan in recent works [Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 083901 (2004); 93, 173903 (2004)].
We discuss how dynamic light stopping and pulse time reversal can be implemented in dispersive waveguides via indirect photonic transitions induced by moving refractive index fronts. The previous concepts of light stopping/time reversal either require complex local variation of the device’s refractive index or rely on the strict phase matching condition, which imposes limitations on the amount of manipulated information. Until now, only single pulses or continuous waves were manipulated experimentally. Our scheme is not limited by a strict phase matching condition and does not require local index variations, thus it can manipulate broadband signals in a single step process. Here, we present several numerically integrated results for pulse time reversal and stopping/storage via indirect front-induced transitions. The presented results are experimentally feasible using existing photonic waveguide technologies.
We introduce a new all-optical mechanism that can compress the bandwidth of light pulses to absolute zero, and bring them to a complete stop. The mechanism can be realized in a system consisting of a waveguide side coupled to tunable resonators, which generates a photonic band structure that represents a classical analogue of the electromagnetically induced transparency. The same system can also achieve a time-reversal operation. We demonstrate the operation of such a system by finite-difference time-domain simulations of an implementation in photonic crystals.
We show that the use of tunable photonic structures opens up unprecedented possibilities in information processing. In particular, we introduce an all-optical adiabatic bandwidth compression and frequency conversion process that overcomes the classical bandwidth-delay constraint in optics. This process requires only very small index modulations (δn/n<10-4) performed at moderate speeds, and yet can alter the spectrum of a photon almost at will. As examples of this process, we show how light pulses can be stopped and stored all-optically in multitude of systems without using any resonant or coherent electronic interactions. We also show how light pulses can be time-reversed using only linear optical elements and modulators. Such systems open up new opportunities in both fundamental sciences and technological applications.
Nonlinearly generated refractive index fronts in waveguides can change the signal frequency and wavenumber leading to the indirect transitions. Here, we discuss how dynamic light stopping and pulse time reversal can be implemented in dispersive waveguides via these transitions. Our scheme, in contrast to previous concepts of light stopping and time reversal, is not limited by a strict phase matching condition and does not require local index variations, thus, can manipulate broadband signals in a single step process. The presented results are experimentally feasible using existing photonic waveguides technologies.
In this paper we review our recent works in developing photonic crystals and nanophotonic structures for the control of light. We show that dynamic crystal structures, in which the refractive index of the material is modulated by a small extent while a photon pulse is in the crystal, can be used to stop, store and even time-reverse light pulses [ 1][ 2][ 3]. We also show that by incorporating magneto-optical effects into the crystal structures, the reciprocity of light can be broken, resulting in uni-directional devices that are extremely compact [ 4]. And finally, by exploiting sub-wavelength electromagnetic resonances in meta structures, new meta-materials can be created. These materials feature frequency-independent refractive index that is controlled by geometry and can be arbitrarily large [ 5]. Such materials can be of importance for integrated optics and image sensing applications.