Nonreciprocal optical devices based on magneto-optical ferrites in their low-loss regimes have been widely investigated as a promising platform for integrated photonics. Nonreciprocity in such devices originates from circular birefringence, leading to frequency splitting of forward and backward modes and, as a result, nonreciprocal transmission. In this paper, we propose an alternative approach to realize nonreciprocal devices based on magneto-optical circular dichroism and relying on the very presence of optical absorption. Our approach relies on the phenomenon of spin-Hall effect of light, which gives rise to chiral near field interactions of light carrying transverse angular momentum with matter, which, in lossy regimes, yields a disparate absorption for forward and backward optical modes. As an example of practical application, we design an optical isolator based on ring resonator integrating Ce:YIG ferrite, and we demonstrate isolation near 880 nm absorption line due to the ionic electric dipole transition. A Ce:YIG film asymmetrically placed on the inner side of the ring yields different critical coupling conditions due to the chiral nature of evanescent light for forward and backward waves, leading to nonreciprocal absorption and transmission. The proposed approach to nonreciprocity may significantly broaden the possible choice of magneto-optical materials for nonreciprocal devices, enabling operation even in lossy regimes.
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14 June 2021
Research Article|
June 15 2021
Optical isolator based on chiral light-matter interactions in a ring resonator integrating a dichroic magneto-optical material
Special Collection:
Metastructures: From Physics to Application
Yuma Kawaguchi
;
Yuma Kawaguchi
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
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Mengyao Li;
Mengyao Li
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
2
Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
3
Physics Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
, New York, New York 10016, USA
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Kai Chen;
Kai Chen
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
2
Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
3
Physics Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
, New York, New York 10016, USA
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Vinod Menon
;
Vinod Menon
2
Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
3
Physics Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
, New York, New York 10016, USA
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Andrea Alù
;
Andrea Alù
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
2
Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
4
Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
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Alexander B. Khanikaev
Alexander B. Khanikaev
a)
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
2
Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York
, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, USA
3
Physics Program, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
, New York, New York 10016, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
Note: This Paper is part of the APL Special Collection on Metastructures: From Physics to Applications.
Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 241104 (2021)
Article history
Received:
May 21 2021
Accepted:
May 24 2021
Citation
Yuma Kawaguchi, Mengyao Li, Kai Chen, Vinod Menon, Andrea Alù, Alexander B. Khanikaev; Optical isolator based on chiral light-matter interactions in a ring resonator integrating a dichroic magneto-optical material. Appl. Phys. Lett. 14 June 2021; 118 (24): 241104. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0057558
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