We present spectroscopic observation of an exceptional point or the transition point between diabatic crossing and avoided crossing of neighboring quasi-eigenmodes in a chaotic optical microcavity with a large size parameter. The transition to the avoided crossing was impeded until the degree of deformation exceeded a threshold deformation owing to the system's openness also enhanced by the shape deformation. As a result, a singular topology was observed around the exceptional point on the eigenfrequency surfaces, resulting in fundamental inconsistency in mode labeling.
Exploiting scattering-matrix in a gain-loss assisted optical-microcavity, interplay between asymmetric-state-conversion and cavity-control parameters around exceptional points is analyzed; where occupying a least area by coupled states during switching, maximum conversion-efficiency with minimal asymmetry is achieved.
One of the most intriguing topological features of open systems is exhibiting exceptional point (EP) singularities. Apart from the widely explored second-order EPs (EP2s), the explorations of higher-order EPs in any system requires more complex topology, which is still a challenge. Here, we encounter a third-order EP (EP3) for the first time in a simple fabrication feasible gain-loss assisted optical microcavity. Using scattering-matrix formalism, we study the simultaneous interactions between three successive coupled states around two EP2s, which yield an EP3. Following an adiabatic parametri…
Topological Switching via Exceptional Point Pairs in an Optical Microcavity Laser
Department of Mathematics and Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Kyung Hee University（庆熙大学数学系与基础科学研究院）；Research Institute of Mathematics, Seoul National University（首尔大学数学研究院）；Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science（韩国计量科学研究院）；Digital Technology Research Center, Kyungpook National University（庆北国立大学数字技术中心）；School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study（韩国高等科学研究院计算科学学院）
Gain and loss modulation are ubiquitous in nature. An exceptional point arises when both the eigenvectors and eigenvalues coalesce, which in a physical system can be achieved by engineering the gain and loss coefficients, leading to a wide variety of counter-intuitive phenomena. In this work we demonstrate the existence of an exceptional point in an exciton polariton condensate in a double-well potential. Remarkably, near the exceptional point, the polariton condensate localized in one potential well can be switched off by an additional optical excitation in the other well with very low (far b…
For a fully chaotic two-dimensional (2D) microcavity laser, we present a theory that guarantees both the existence of a stable single-mode lasing state and the nonexistence of a stable multimode lasing state, under the assumptions that the cavity size is much larger than the wavelength and the external pumping power is sufficiently large. It is theoretically shown that these universal spectral characteristics arise from the synergistic effect of two different kinds of nonlinearities: deformation of the cavity shape and mode interaction due to a lasing medium. Our theory is based on the linear …
Exceptional points (EPs) are special singularities of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. At an EP, two or more eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenstates coalesce. Recently, EP-based optical gyroscope near an EP was extensively investigated to improve the response to rotation. However, the highly resultant dimensionality in the eigenstate space causing from the EP-based system is sensitivity to more external perturbations, that is, the great response at EPs requires strict implementation conditions. To solve this problem, a new non-Hermitian structure was proposed that realizes an exceptional surf…
In a non-Hermitian optical system with loss and gain, an exceptional point (EP) will arise under specific parameters where the eigenvalues and eigenstates exhibit simultaneous coalescence. Here we report a dynamical switching of lasing behavior in a non-Hermitian system composed of coupled microcavities by modulating the EPs. Utilizing the effect of gain, loss and coupling on the eigenstates of coupled microcavities, the evolution path of the eigenvalues related to the laser emission characteristics can be modulated. As a result, the lasing emission property of the coupled cavities exhibits an…
As an important device for detecting rotation, high sensitivity gyroscope is required for practical applications. In recent years, exceptional point (EP) shows its potential in enhancing the sensitivity of sensing in optical cavity. Here we propose an EP enhanced optical gyroscope based on mechanical PT-symmetric system in microcavity. By pumping the two optical modes with different colors, i.e. blue and red detuning, an effective mechanical PT-symmetric system can be obtained and the system can be prepared in EP with appropriate parameters. Compared with the situation of diabolic point, EP ca…
The finite gain-bandwidth product is a fundamental figure of merit that restricts the operation of standard optical amplifiers. In microcavity setups, this becomes a serious problem due to the narrow bandwidth of the device. Here we introduce a new design paradigm based on exceptional points, that relaxes this limitation and allows for building a new generation of optical amplifiers that exhibits better gain-bandwidth scaling relations. Importantly, our results can be extended to other physical systems such as acoustics and microwaves.
Recent experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of exploiting spectral singularities in open quantum and wave systems, so-called exceptional points, for sensors with strongly enhanced sensitivity. Here, we study theoretically the influence of classical parametric noise on the performance of such sensors. Within a Lindblad-type formalism for stochastic Hamiltonians we discuss the resolvability of frequency splittings and the dynamical stability of the sensor, and show that these properties are interrelated. Of central importance are the different features of exceptional points in the spect…
Asymmetric microcavities supporting Whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) are of great significance for on-chip optical information processing. We define asymmetric microcavities on topologically curved surfaces, where the geodesic light trajectories completely reconstruct the cavity mode features. The quality factors of the lossy chaotic and island modes in flat cavities can be increased by up to ~200 times by the space curvature. Strong and weak coupling between modes of very different origins occur when the space curvature brings them into resonance, leading to a fine tailoring of the cavity phot…
The geometry of Hamiltonian's eigenstates is encoded in the quantum geometric tensor (QGT). It contains both the Berry curvature, central to the description of topological matter and the quantum metric. So far the full QGT has been measured only in Hermitian systems, where the role of the quantum metric is mostly shown to determine corrections to physical effects. On the contrary, in non-Hermitian systems, and in particular near exceptional points, the quantum metric is expected to diverge and to often play a dominant role, for example on the enhanced sensing and on wave packet dynamics. In th…
Exceptional points, that are spectral degeneracies in the parameter space of non-Hermitian systems, have evoked a massive interest in the optical domain owing to their striking consequences on optical behavior of commonly known systems. Through careful engineering of gain and loss, exceptional points have been demonstrated in a variety of photonic systems ranging from optical fibers to chaotic cavities, exhibiting extra-ordinary phenomena and augmented functionalities. However, in the domain of disordered systems, there are still no realizations of exceptional points even though mode-coupling …
Topological physics relies on the existence of Hamiltonian's eigenstate singularities carrying a topological charge, such as quantum vortices, Dirac points, Weyl points and -- in non-Hermitian systems -- exceptional points (EPs), lines or surfaces. They appear only in pairs connected by a Fermi arc and are related to a Hermitian singularity, such as a Dirac point. The annihilation of 2D Dirac points carrying opposite charges has been experimentally reported. It remained elusive for Weyl points and second order EPs terminating different Fermi arcs. Here, we observe the annihilation of second or…
We engineer mechanical gain (loss) in system formed by two optomechanical cavities (OMCs), that are mechanically coupled. The gain (loss) is controlled by driving the resonator with laser that is blue (red) detuned. We predict analytically the existence of multiple exceptional points (EPs), a form of degeneracy where the eigenvalues of the system coalesce. At each EP, phase transition occurs, and the system switches from weak to strong coupling regimes and vice versa. In the weak coupling regime, the system locks on an intermediate frequency, resulting from coalescence at the EP. In strong cou…
