Experimental observation of Berry phases in optical Möbius-strip microcavities

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jiawei Wang - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Chemnitz University of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (Author)
  • Sreeramulu Valligatla - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Yin Yin - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Jiangsu University (Author)
  • Lukas Schwarz - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Mariana Medina-Sánchez - , Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Stefan Baunack - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ching Hua Lee - , National University of Singapore (Author)
  • Ronny Thomale - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Shilong Li - , Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (Author)
  • Vladimir M. Fomin - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Moldova State University (Author)
  • Libo Ma - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Oliver G. Schmidt - , Chemnitz University of Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

The Möbius strip, a fascinating loop structure with one-sided topology, provides a rich playground for manipulating the non-trivial topological behaviour of spinning particles, such as electrons, polaritons and photons, in both real and parameter spaces. For photons resonating in a Möbius-strip cavity, the occurrence of an extra phase—known as the Berry phase—with purely topological origin is expected due to its non-trivial evolution in parameter space. However, despite numerous theoretical investigations, characterizing the optical Berry phase in a Möbius-strip cavity has remained elusive. Here we report the experimental observation of the Berry phase generated in optical Möbius-strip microcavities. In contrast to theoretical predictions in optical, electronic and magnetic Möbius-topology systems where only Berry phase π occurs, we demonstrate that a variable Berry phase smaller than π can be acquired by generating elliptical polarization of resonating light. Möbius-strip microcavities as integrable and Berry-phase-programmable optical systems are of great interest in topological physics and emerging classical or quantum photonic applications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)120-125
Number of pages6
JournalNature Photonics
Volume17
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023
Peer-reviewedYes