The formation of gap solitons in a 1D dissipative topological lattice

Ingrid Fadelli is a writer for the website Phys.org.

Topological photonics focuses on the design of lattices where the behavior of light is influenced by the physics of topological insulators. Recent works have begun paving the foundations of non- linear topological photonics, which were presented in most studies.

The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model is an elementary framework that describes particles hopping on a lattice. The findings of the team at the Université Paris-Saclay are published in the journal Nature Physics.

Two of the researchers who carried out the study said that their group demonstrated the first topological laser using a 1D lattice of Semiconductor Resonator. The system was being used in this early work.

The aim of the recent study by Ravets, Bloch and their colleagues is to extend their investigation to non- linear physics, which has so far mainly been explored in the context of conservative systems. The platform used by the researchers was subjected to continuous drive.

Ravets and Bloch explained how they created a lattice of non- linear resonators. The non-linearity is provided by the active medium in each of the resonators. The Su Schrieffer Heger model is the simplest model that can be implemented.

Laser beams were shone on specific parts of the lattice in order to cause a non- linear response. The transmitted intensity was measured as a function of the input laser power.

The relative phase between the beams provides a new level of control that hadn't been considered before.

The results of the experiments were novel. The formation of new gap soliton families were discovered. The gap solitons are not found in conservative systems.

The solitons induce the appearance of a topological edge state on top of the steady state. The ability to control the system through engineering is called drive engineering.

According to a recent study by Ravets, Bloch and their colleagues, there is a possibility of exploiting coherent driving to stabilization. In the future, the methods outlined in the paper could be applied to 2D systems as well.

"In our next study, we want to demonstrate the ability to control the topology of a non- linear photonic lattice through the engineering of the drive and dissipation," Ravets and Bloch said.

More information: Nicolas Pernet et al, Gap solitons in a one-dimensional driven-dissipative topological lattice, Nature Physics (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-022-01599-8 Journal information: Nature Physics

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