Photonic Landau levels on cones

POSTER

Abstract

We present the first experimental realization of a bulk magnetic field for optical photons. By using a non-planar ring resonator, we induce an image rotation on each round trip through the resonator. This results in a Coriolis/Lorentz force and a centrifugal anticonfining force, the latter of which is cancelled by mirror curvature. Using a digital micromirror device to control both amplitude and phase, we inject arbitrary optical modes into our resonator. Spatial- and energy- resolved spectroscopy tracks photonic eigenstates as residual trapping is reduced, and we observe photonic Landau levels as the eigenstates become degenerate. We show that there is a conical geometry of the resulting manifold for photon dynamics and present a measurement of the local density of states that is consistent with Landau levels on a cone. While our work already demonstrates an integer quantum Hall material composed of photons, we have ensured compatibility with strong photon-photon interactions, which will allow quantum optical studies of entanglement and correlation in manybody systems including fractional quantum Hall fluids.

Authors

  • Nathan Schine

    • Univ of Chicago
    • University of Chicago
  • Albert Ryou

    • Univ of Chicago
  • Andrey Gromov

    • Univ of Chicago
  • Ariel Sommer

    • Univ of Chicago
  • Jonathan Simon

    • Univ of Chicago
    • University of Chicago