Optical Thouless pumping transport and nonlinear switching in a topological low-dimensional discrete nematic liquid crystal array

Pawel S. Jung; Midya Parto; Georgios G. Pyrialakos; Hadiseh Nasari; Katarzyna Rutkowska; Marek Trippenbach; Mercedeh Khajavikhan; Wieslaw Krolikowski; Demetrios N. Christodoulides

doi:10.1103/physreva.105.013513

arXiv · 2201.00880

Optical Thouless pumping transport and nonlinear switching in a topological low-dimensional discrete nematic liquid crystal array

Pawel S. Jung·Midya Parto·Georgios G. Pyrialakos·Hadiseh Nasari·Katarzyna Rutkowska·Marek Trippenbach·Mercedeh Khajavikhan·Wieslaw Krolikowski·Demetrios N. Christodoulides

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Abstract

We theoretically investigate a Thouless pumping scheme in the 1D topological Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model for single and multiple band-gaps systems when implemented in a discrete nematic liquid crystal arrangement. For an electrically controlled SSH waveguide array, we numerically demonstrate edge-to-edge light transport at low power levels. On the other hand, at higher powers, the transport is frustrated by light-induced nonlinear defect states, giving rise to robust all-optical switching.

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Pawel S. Jung, Midya Parto, Georgios G. Pyrialakos, Hadiseh Nasari, Katarzyna Rutkowska, Marek Trippenbach, Mercedeh Khajavikhan, Wieslaw Krolikowski, Demetrios N. Christodoulides. 2022-01-03. Optical Thouless pumping transport and nonlinear switching in a topological low-dimensional discrete nematic liquid crystal array. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.105.013513

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