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Storing light near an exceptional point

Author

Listed:
  • Yicheng Zhu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jiankun Hou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Qi Geng

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Boyi Xue

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Yuping Chen

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Xianfeng Chen

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Li Ge

    (The City University of New York)

  • Wenjie Wan

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    East China Normal University)

Abstract

Photons with zero rest mass are impossible to be stopped. However, a pulse of light can be slowed down and even halted through strong light-matter interaction in a dispersive medium in atomic systems. Exceptional point (EP), a non-Hermitian singularity point, can introduce an abrupt transition in dispersion. Here we experimentally observe room-temperature storing light near an exceptional point induced by nonlinear Brillouin scattering in a chip-scale 90-μm-radius optical microcavity, the smallest platform up to date to store light. Through nonlinear coupling, a Parity-Time (PT) symmetry can be constructed in optical-acoustical hybrid modes, where Brillouin scattering-induced absorption (BSIA) can lead to both slow light and fast light of incoming pulses. A subtle transition of slow-to-fast light reveals a critical point for storing a light pulse up to half a millisecond. This compact and room-temperature scheme of storing light paves the way for practical applications in all-optical communications and quantum information processing.

Suggested Citation

  • Yicheng Zhu & Jiankun Hou & Qi Geng & Boyi Xue & Yuping Chen & Xianfeng Chen & Li Ge & Wenjie Wan, 2024. "Storing light near an exceptional point," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52064-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52064-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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