• Photonics Research
  • Vol. 10, Issue 5, 1223 (2022)
Konrad Tschernig1、2、5, Gabriel Martinez-Niconoff3, Kurt Busch1、2, Miguel A. Bandres4、6, and Armando Perez-Leija1、4、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Max-Born-Institut, 12489 Berlin, Germany
  • 2Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Physik, AG Theoretische Optik & Photonik, 12489 Berlin, Germany
  • 3Coordinación de Óptica, Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica, y Electrónica, 72840 Tonantzintla, Puebla, Mexico
  • 4CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
  • 5e-mail: konrad.tschernig@mbi-berlin.de
  • 6e-mail: bandres@creol.ucf.edu
  • show less
    DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.453603 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Konrad Tschernig, Gabriel Martinez-Niconoff, Kurt Busch, Miguel A. Bandres, Armando Perez-Leija. Topological protection of partially coherent light[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(5): 1223 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Topological physics exploits concepts from geometry and topology to implement systems capable of guiding waves in an unprecedented fashion. These ideas have led to the development of photonic topological insulators, which are optical systems whose eigenspectral topology allows the creation of light states that propagate along the edge of the system without any coupling into the bulk or backscattering even in the presence of disorder. Indeed, topological protection is a fully coherent effect, and it is not clear to what extent topological effects endure when the wavefronts become partially coherent. Here, we study the interplay of topological protection and the degree of spatial coherence of classical light propagating in disordered photonic topological insulators. Our results reveal the existence of a well-defined spectral window in which partially coherent light is topologically protected. This opens up the design space to a wider selection of light sources, possibly yielding smaller, cheaper, and more robust devices based on the topological transport of light.
    idρ^dz=Lρ^,

    View in Article

    ρ^α=αρ^c+(1α)ρ^i,

    View in Article

    Em=Aeikxxmeikyyme(xmx0)22σx2e(ymy0)22σy2,(A1)

    View in Article

    Konrad Tschernig, Gabriel Martinez-Niconoff, Kurt Busch, Miguel A. Bandres, Armando Perez-Leija. Topological protection of partially coherent light[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(5): 1223
    Download Citation