Photonic quantum Hall effect and multiplexed light sources of large orbital angular momenta

• Published in: Nature physics Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 700 - 703
• Main Authors: Bahari, Babak, Hsu, Liyi, Pan, Si Hui, Preece, Daryl, Ndao, Abdoulaye, El Amili, Abdelkrim, Fainman, Yeshaiahu, Kanté, Boubacar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.06.2021; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 142/126; 639/624; 639/624/1020; 639/925; Angular momentum; Atomic; Circular orbits; Classical and Continuum Physics; Coherent light; Complex Systems; Condensed Matter Physics; Electromagnetism; Electrons; Heterostructures; Letter; Light; Light sources; Magnetic fields; Magnetic semiconductors; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Molecular; Multiplexing; Optical and Plasma Physics; Photonic crystals; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Hall effect; Quantum numbers; Substrates; Theoretical
• ISSN: 1745-2473; 1745-2481
• DOI: 10.1038/s41567-021-01165-8

The quantum Hall effect involves electrons confined to a two-dimensional plane subject to a perpendicular magnetic field, but it also has a photonic analogue 1 – 6 . Using heterostructures based on structured semiconductors on a magnetic substrate, we introduce compact and integrated coherent light sources of large orbital angular momenta 7 based on the photonic quantum Hall effect 1 – 6 . The photonic quantum Hall effect enables the direct and integrated generation of coherent orbital angular momenta beams of large quantum numbers from light travelling in leaky circular orbits at the interface between two topologically dissimilar photonic structures. Our work gives direct access to the infinite number of orbital angular momenta basis elements and will thus enable multiplexed quantum light sources for communication and imaging applications. A topological photonic crystal design directly generates light that carries orbital angular momentum with high quantum numbers. The beam contains several different states at the same time, promising integrated and multiplexed light sources.