Exploiting Topological Darkness in Photonic Crystal Slabs for Spatiotemporal Vortex Generation.

ABSTRACT: Spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOVs) with swirling phase singularities in space and time hold great promise for a wide range of applications across diverse fields. However, current approaches to generate STOVs lack integrability and rely on bulky free-space optical components. Here, we demonstrate routine STOV generation by harnessing the topological darkness phenomenon of a photonic crystal slab. Complete polarization conversion enforced by symmetry enables topological darkness to arise from photonic bands of guided resonances, imprinting vortex singularities onto an ultrashort reflected pulse. Utilizing time-resolved spatial mapping, we provide the first observation of STOV generation using a photonic crystal slab, revealing the imprinted STOV structure manifested as a curved vortex l

SUBMITTER: Liu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10811678 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature