Abstract Controlling the group velocity of an optical pulse typically requires traversing a material or structure whose dispersion is judiciously crafted. Alternatively, can be modified in free space by spatially structuring beam profile, but realizable deviation from speed light vacuum small. Here we demonstrate precise and versatile control over propagation-invariant wave packet through sculpting its spatio-temporal spectrum. By jointly modulating spatial temporal degrees freedom,...

Diffraction places a fundamental limitation on the distance an optical beam propagates before its size increases and spatial details blur. We show here that imposing judicious correlation between spectral degrees of freedom pulsed can render transverse profile independent location along propagation axis, thereby arresting spread time-averaged beam. Such introduced into with arbitrary enables spatio-temporal dispersion to compensate for purely underlies diffraction. As result, in local...

Although diffractive spreading is an unavoidable feature of all wave phenomena, certain waveforms can attain propagation-invariance. A lesser-explored strategy for achieving optical selfsimilar propagation exploits the modification spatio-temporal field structure when observed in reference frames moving at relativistic speeds. For such observer, it predicted that associated Lorentz boost bring to a halt axial dynamics packet arbitrary profile. This phenomenon particularly striking case...

Introducing correlations between the spatial and temporal degrees of freedom a pulsed optical beam (or wave packet) can profoundly alter its propagation in free space. Indeed, appropriate spatio-temporal spectral render packet propagation-invariant: profiles remain unchanged along axis. The locus any such lies at intersection light-cone with tilted hyperplanes. We investigate (2+1)D 'space-time' propagation-invariant light sheets, identify 10 classes categorized according to magnitude sign...

Get PDF Email Share with Facebook Tweet This Post on reddit LinkedIn Add to CiteULike Mendeley BibSonomy Citation Copy Text Murat Yessenov, Basanta Bhaduri, H. Esat Kondakci, and Ayman F. Abouraddy, "Weaving the Rainbow: Space-Time Optical Wave Packets," Optics & Photonics News 30(5), 34-41 (2019) Export BibTex Endnote (RIS) HTML Plain alert Save article

Abstract Quantum transport can distinguish between dynamical phases of matter. For instance, ballistic propagation characterizes the absence disorder, whereas in many-body localized phases, particles do not propagate for exponentially long times. Additional possibilities include states matter exhibiting anomalous which with a non-trivial exponent. Here we report experimental observation across broad range phase diagram kicked quasicrystal. The Hamiltonian our system has been predicted to...

Space-time wave packets are a class of pulsed optical beams that diffraction-free and dispersion-free in free space by virtue introducing tight correlation between the spatial temporal degrees freedom field. Such have been recently synthesized novel configuration makes use light modulator to realize required spatio-temporal correlations. This arrangement combines pulse-modulation beam-shaping assign one frequency each wavelength according prescribed function. Relying on results several...

The group velocity of 'space-time' wave packets - propagation-invariant pulsed beams endowed with tight spatio-temporal spectral correlations can take on arbitrary values in free space. Here we investigate theoretically and experimentally the maximum achievable delay that realistic finite-energy space-time achieve respect to a reference pulse traveling at speed light. We find this is determined solely by uncertainty association between spatial frequencies wavelengths underlying packet...

Propagation-invariant pulsed beams are generated by introducing appropriate tight correlations in their spatiotemporal spectrum. Such constitute an example of what has been called "classical entanglement," which is a necessary but insufficient requirement for propagation invariance. We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that standard measure entanglement, the Schmidt number, determines distance under wave packets retain shape. Reduction this degree classical entanglement manifests...

Abstract The coherence of an optical beam having multiple degrees freedom (DoFs) is described by a coherency matrix G spanning these DoFs. This has not been measured in its entirety to date—even the simplest case two binary DoFs where 4 × matrix. We establish methodical yet versatile approach—optical tomography—for reconstructing that exploits analogy between this problem classical optics and tomographically density associated with multipartite quantum states information science. Here...

Space-time (ST) wave packets are coherent pulsed beams that propagate diffraction-free and dispersion-free by virtue of tight correlations introduced between their spatial temporal spectral degrees freedom.Less is known the behavior incoherent ST fields maintain spatio-temporal structure wave-packet counterparts while losing all purely or coherence.We show here structuring spectrum an field produces broadband diffraction free.The intensity profile these consist a narrow feature atop constant...

Space-time (ST) wave packets are diffraction-free, dispersion-free pulsed beams whose propagation invariance stems from correlations introduced into their spatio-temporal spectra. We demonstrate here experimentally and computationally that ST light sheets exhibit self-healing properties upon traversing obstacles in the form of opaque obstructions. The unscattered fraction packet retains and, thus, is maintained. scattered component does not satisfy requisite correlation undergoes diffractive...

Monochromatic coherent light traversing a disordered photonic medium evolves into random field whose statistics are dictated by the disorder level. Here we demonstrate experimentally that can be deterministically tuned in certain lattices, even when level is held fixed, controllably breaking excitation symmetry of lattice modes. We exploit endowed with disorder-immune chiral which eigenmodes come skew-symmetric pairs. If single site excited, "photonic thermalization gap" emerges: realm...

Optical cavities transmit light only at discrete resonant frequencies, which are well-separated in micro-structures. Despite attempts the construction of planar 'white-light cavities', benefits accrued upon optically interacting with a cavity - such as field buildup have remained confined to narrow linewidths. Here, we demonstrate achromatic optical transmission through Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity via angularly multiplexed phase-matching that exploits bio-inspired grating configuration. By...

Studying the coherence of an optical field is typically compartmentalized with respect to its different degrees freedom (DoFs) -- spatial, temporal, and polarization. Although this traditional approach succeeds when DoFs are uncoupled, it fails at capturing key features field's if DOFs indeed correlated a situation that arises often. By viewing as `resource' can be shared among DoFs, becomes possible convert entropy associated fluctuations in one DoF another initially fluctuation-free. Here,...

Tilted-pulse-front pulses, which are produced via dispersive devices that introduce angular dispersion, useful in many areas of nonlinear optics. Such pulses typically have large transverse cross sections and propagate for limited distances to offset the impact diffractive space-time coupling leads spectral walk-off. Here we show sculpting spatiotemporal profile a pulsed plane wave enables synthesis propagation-invariant packets endowed with tilted intensity pulse front respect propagation...

Periodic driving can tune the quasistatic properties of quantum matter. A well-known example is dynamical modification tunneling by an oscillating electric field. Here we show experimentally that phasonic degree freedom a cold-atom quasicrystal continuously effective quasidisorder strength, reversibly toggling localization-delocalization phase transition. Measurements agree with fit-parameter-free theoretical predictions, and illuminate fundamental connection between Aubry-André localization...

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of spatially variable infrared photonic band gap filter that consists thermally evaporated, high refractive index contrast, amorphous chalcogenide glass multilayers. Due to graded thickness structure, exhibits a position dependent stop cavity mode ranging from 1.8 3.4 μm wavelengths. Reflection measurements agree well with theoretical calculations. These results pave way low-loss mirrors, filters, spectral imaging, miniaturized...

Multifractal states offer a "third way" for quantum matter, neither fully localized nor ergodic, exhibiting singular continuous spectra, self-similar wavefunctions, and transport entanglement scaling exponents intermediate between extended states. While multifractality in equilibrium systems generally requires fine-tuning to critical point, externally driven matter can exhibit multifractal with no counterpart. We report the experimental observation of anomalous localization kicked...

We demonstrate deterministic control over the photon-number distribution by interfering two coherent beams within a disordered photonic lattice. By sweeping relative phase between equal-amplitude fields with Poissonian statistics that excite adjacent sites in lattice endowed disorder-immune chiral symmetry, we measure an output changes periodically super-thermal and sub-thermal photon upon ensemble averaging. Thus, photon-bunching level is controlled interferometrically at fixed mean...

In the absence of a lens to form an image, incoherent or partially coherent light scattering off obstructive reflective object forms broad intensity distribution in far field with only feeble spatial features. We show here that measuring complex coherence function can help identification size and location one-dimensional placed path source. The is measured through wavefront sampling, which performed via dynamically reconfigurable slits implemented on digital micromirror device (DMD). impact...

Te-enriched chalcogenide glass Ge(15)As(25)Se(15)Te(45) (GAST) is synthesized, thermo-optically characterized and used to fabricate a one dimensional photonic crystal cavity mode that dynamically reversibly tuned by temperature modulation. The optical designed using GAST As(2)S(3) glasses after fully determining their dependence of the complex refractive indices in visible near infrared spectrum spectroscopic ellipsometry. By making use very large thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT = 4 x...