Partial nonlinear reciprocity breaking through ultrafast dynamics in a random photonic medium
Abstract
We demonstrate that ultrafast nonlinear dynamics gives rise to reciprocity breaking in a random photonic medium. Reciprocity breaking is observed via the suppression of coherent backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization of light. The effect is observed in a pump-probe configuration where the pump induces an ultrafast step-change of the refractive index during the dwell time of the probe light in the material. The dynamical suppression of coherent backscattering is reproduced well by a multiple scattering Monte Carlo simulation. Ultrafast reciprocity breaking provides a distinct mechanism in nonlinear optical media which opens up avenues for the active manipulation of mesoscopic transport, random lasers, and photon localization.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1202.2729,
title = {Partial nonlinear reciprocity breaking through ultrafast dynamics in a random photonic medium},
author = {Otto L. Muskens and Paul Venn and Timmo van der Beek and Thomas Wellens},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1202.2729},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
5 pages, 4 figures