arXiv subjects

Albert Ferrando

Publications and source records attributed to Albert Ferrando.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exceptional light propagation via generalized bulk-edge correspondence

In topological photonics, the bulk-edge correspondence is conventionally imported by direct analogy with electronic systems, overlooking the fundamentally distinct spacetime symmetries of Maxwell's and Schr\"{o}dinger's equations. In this work, we challenge this prevailing paradigm by demonstrating that non-trivial bulk topology alone is insufficient to guarantee localized edge states in photonic platforms. Using a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger-inspired photonic crystal, we unveil a generalized bulk-edge correspondence intrinsically shaped by the relativistic nature of electromagnetic waves. This constraint imposes a strict frequency cutoff, a feature fundamentally absent in electronic topological insulators, which enables a new regime of frequency-controlled spatial localization near the cutoff. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this generalized correspondence is polarization-dependent: transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) edge modes exist in different parameter regimes and exhibit distinct dispersion relations, including distinct zero-dispersion points. Our framework redefines the theoretical boundaries of topological photonics, unlocking new opportunities for polarization-selective dispersion engineering and robust pulse propagation in topological photonic platforms.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Vortex solitons in twisted circular waveguide arrays

We address the formation of topological states in twisted circular waveguide arrays and find that twisting leads to important differences of the fundamental properties of new vortex solitons with opposite topological charges that arise in the nonlinear regime. We find that such system features the rare property that clockwise and counter-clockwise vortex states are nonequivalent. Focusing on arrays with C_{6v} discrete rotation symmetry, we find that a longitudinal twist stabilizes the vortex solitons with the lowest topological charges m=+-1, which are always unstable in untwisted arrays with the same symmetry. Twisting also leads to the appearance of instability domains for otherwise stable solitons with m=+-2 and generates vortex modes with topological charges m=+-3 that are forbidden in untwisted arrays. By and large, we establish a rigorous relation between the discrete rotation symmetry of the array, its twist direction, and the possible soliton topological charges.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Topological edge states of nonequilibrium polaritons in hollow honeycomb arrays

We address topological currents in polariton condensates excited by uniform resonant pumps in finite honeycomb arrays of microcavity pillars with a hole in the center. Such currents arise under combined action of the spin-orbit coupling and the Zeeman splitting that break the time-reversal symmetry and open a topological gap in the spectrum of the structure. The most representative feature of this structure is the presence of two interfaces, inner and outer ones, where the directions of topological currents are opposite. Due to the finite size of the structure polariton-polariton interactions lead to the coupling of the edge states at the inner and outer interfaces, which depends on the size of the hollow region. Moreover, switching between currents can be realized by tuning the pump frequency. We illustrate that currents in this finite structure can be stable and study bistability effects arising due to the resonant character of the pump.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Interface states in polariton topological insulators

We address linear and nonlinear topological interface states in polariton condensates excited at the interface of the honeycomb and Lieb arrays of microcavity pillars in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman splitting in the external magnetic field. Such interface states appear only in total energy gaps of the composite structure when parameters of the honeycomb and Lieb arrays are selected such that some topological gaps in the spectrum of one of the arrays overlap with topological or nontopological gaps in the spectrum of the other array. This is in contrast to conventional edge states at the interface of periodic topological and uniform trivial insulators, whose behavior is determined exclusively by the spectrum of the topological medium. The number of emerging interface states is determined by the difference of the Chern numbers of the overlapping gaps. Illustrative examples with one or two coexisting unidirectional interface states are provided. The representative feature of the system is the possibility of wide tuning of the concentration of power of the interface states between two limiting cases when practically all power is concentrated either in the Lieb or the honeycomb array. Localization of the interface states and their penetration depth into arrays drastically vary with Bloch momentum or upon modification of the amplitude of the interface state in the nonlinear regime. We illustrate topological protection of the interface states manifested in the absence of backscattering on interface defects, and study their modulation instability in the nonlinear regime. The latter leads to formation of quasisolitons whose penetration into different arrays also depends on Bloch momentum. In addition, we discuss the impact of losses and coherent pump leading to bistability of the interface states.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Lieb polariton topological insulators

We predict that the interplay between the spin-orbit coupling, stemming from the TE-TM energy splitting, and the Zeeman effect in semiconductor microcavities supporting exci- ton-polariton quasi-particles results in the appearance of unidirectional linear topological edge states when the top microcavity mirror is patterned to form a truncated dislocated Lieb lattice of cylindrical pillars. Periodic nonlinear edge states are found to emerge from the linear ones. They are strongly localized across the interface and they are remarkably robust in comparison to their counterparts in hexagonal lattices. Such robustness makes possible the existence of nested unidirectional dark solitons that move steadily along the lattice edge.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Photonic Nambu-Goldstone bosons

We study numerically the spatial dynamics of light in periodic square lattices in the presence of a Kerr term, emphasizing the peculiarities stemming from the nonlinearity. We find that, under rather general circumstances, the phase pattern of the stable ground state depends on the character of the nonlinearity: the phase is spatially uniform if it is defocusing whereas in the focusing case, it presents a chess board pattern, with a difference of $\pi$ between neighboring sites. We show that the lowest lying perturbative excitations can be described as perturbations of the phase and that finite-sized structures can act as tunable metawaveguides for them. The tuning is made by varying the intensity of the light that, because of the nonlinearity, affects the dynamics of the phase fluctuations. We interpret the results using methods of condensed matter physics, based on an effective description of the optical system. This interpretation sheds new light on the phenomena, facilitating the understanding of individual systems and leading to a framework for relating different problems with the same symmetry. In this context, we show that the perturbative excitations of the phase are Nambu-Goldstone bosons of a spontaneously broken $U(1)$ symmetry.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Nonlinear plasmonic amplification via dissipative soliplasmons

In this contribution we introduce a new strategy for the compensation of plasmonic losses based on a recently proposed nonlinear mechanism: the resonant interaction between surface plasmon polaritons and spatial solitons propagating in parallel along a metal/dielectric/Kerr structure. This mechanism naturally leads to the generation of a quasi-particle excitation, the so-called soliplasmon resonance. We analyze the role played by the effective nonlinear coupling inherent to this system and how this can be used to provide a new mechanism of quasi-resonant nonlinear excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. We will pay particular attention to the introduction of asymmetric linear gain in the Kerr medium. The unique combination of nonlinear propagation, nonlinear coupling and gain give rise to a new scenario for the excitation of long- range surface plasmon polaritons with distinguishing characteristics. The connection between plasmonic losses and soliplasmon resonances in the presence of gain will be discussed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Discrete-Gauss states and the generation of focussing dark beams

Discrete-Gauss states are a new class of gaussian solutions of the free Schr\"odinger equation owning discrete rotational symmetry. They are obtained by acting with a discrete deformation operator onto Laguerre-Gauss modes. We present a general analytical construction of these states and show the necessary and sufficient condition for them to host embedded dark beams structures. We unveil the intimate connection between discrete rotational symmetry, orbital angular momentum, and the generation of focussing dark beams. The distinguishing features of focussing dark beams are discussed. The potential applications of Discrete-Gauss states in advanced optical trapping and quantum information processing are also briefly discussed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

The key role of off-axis singularities in free-space vortex transmutation

We experimentally demonstrate the generation of off-axis phase singularities in a vortex transmutation process induced by the breaking of rotational symmetry. The process takes place in free space by launching a highly-charged vortex, owning full rotational symmetry, into a linear thin diffractive element presenting discrete rotational symmetry. It is shown that off-axis phase singularities follow straight dark rays bifurcating from the symmetry axis. This phenomenon may provide new routes towards the spatial control of multiple phase singularities for applications in atom trapping and particle manipulation.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Maxwell's equations approach to soliton excitations of surface plasmonic resonances

We demonstrate that soliton-plasmon bound states appear naturally as propagating eigenmodes of nonlinear Maxwell's equations for a metal/dielectric/Kerr interface. By means of a variational method, we give an explicit and simplified expression for the full-vector nonlinear operator of the system. Soliplasmon states (propagating surface soliton-plasmon modes) can be then analytically calculated as eigenmodes of this non-selfadjoint operator. The theoretical treatment of the system predicts the key features of the stationary solutions and gives physical insight to understand the inherent stability and dynamics observed by means of finite element numerical modeling of the time independent nonlinear Maxwell equations. Our results contribute with a new theory for the development of power-tunable photonic nanocircuits based on nonlinear plasmonic waveguides.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Precision tests of QED and non-standard models by searching photon-photon scattering in vacuum with high power lasers

We study how to search for photon-photon scattering in vacuum at present petawatt laser facilities such as HERCULES, and test Quantum Electrodynamics and non-standard models like Born-Infeld theory or scenarios involving minicharged particles or axion-like bosons. First, we compute the phase shift that is produced when an ultra-intense laser beam crosses a low power beam, in the case of arbitrary polarisations. This result is then used in order to design a complete test of all the parameters appearing in the low energy effective photonic Lagrangian. In fact, we propose a set of experiments that can be performed at HERCULES, eventually allowing either to detect photon-photon scattering as due to new physics, or to set new limits on the relevant parameters, improving by several orders of magnitude the current constraints obtained recently by PVLAS collaboration. We also describe a multi-cross optical mechanism that can further enhance the sensitivity, enabling HERCULES to detect photon-photon scattering even at a rate as small as that predicted by QED. Finally, we discuss how these results can be improved at future exawatt facilities such as ELI, thus providing a new class of precision tests of the Standard Model and beyond.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Symmetry, winding number and topological charge of vortex solitons in discrete-symmetry media

We determine the functional behavior near the discrete rotational symmetry axis of discrete vortices of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation. We show that these solutions present a central phase singularity whose charge is restricted by symmetry arguments. Consequently, we demonstrate that the existence of high-charged discrete vortices is related to the presence of other off-axis phase singularities, whose positions and charges are also restricted by symmetry arguments. To illustrate our theoretical results, we offer two numerical examples of high-charged discrete vortices in photonic crystal fibers showing hexagonal discrete rotational invariance.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Nonlinear Propagation of Crossing Electromagnetic Waves in Vacuum due to Photon-Photon Scattering

We review the theory for photon-photon scattering in vacuum, and some of the proposals for its experimental search, including the results of our recent works on the subject. We then describe a very simple and sensitive proposal of an experiment and discuss how it can be used at the present (HERCULES) and the future (ELI) ultrahigh power laser facilities either to find the first evidence of photon-photon scattering in vacuum, or to significantly improve the current experimental limits.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Supersolid behavior of nonlinear light

We present a formal demonstration that light can simultaneously exhibit a superfluid behavior and spatial long-range order when propagating in a photonic crystal with self-focussing nonlinearity. In this way, light presents the distinguishing features of matter in a "supersolid" phase. We show that this supersolid phase provides the stability conditions for nonlinear Bloch waves and, at the same time, permits the existence of topological solitons or defects for the envelope of these waves. We use a condensed matter analysis instead of a standard nonlinear optics approach and provide numerical evidence of these theoretical findings.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Detecting photon-photon scattering in vacuum at exawatt lasers

In a recent paper, we have shown that the QED nonlinear corrections imply a phase correction to the linear evolution of crossing electromagnetic waves in vacuum. Here, we provide a more complete analysis, including a full numerical solution of the QED nonlinear wave equations for short-distance propagation in a symmetric configuration. The excellent agreement of such a solution with the result that we obtain using our perturbatively-motivated Variational Approach is then used to justify an analytical approximation that can be applied in a more general case. This allows us to find the most promising configuration for the search of photon-photon scattering in optics experiments. In particular, we show that our previous requirement of phase coherence between the two crossing beams can be released. We then propose a very simple experiment that can be performed at future exawatt laser facilities, such as ELI, by bombarding a low power laser beam with the exawatt bump.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Nonlinear phase shift from photon-photon scattering in vacuum

We show that QED nonlinear effects imply a phase correction to the linear evolution of electromagnetic waves in vacuum. We provide explicit solutions of the modified Maxwell's equations for the propagation of a superposition of two plane waves, and calculate analytically and numerically the corresponding phase shift. This provides a new framework for the search of all-optical signatures of photon-photon scattering in vacuum. In particular, we propose an experiment for measuring the phase shift in projected high-power laser facilities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Symmetry-assisted vorticity control in Bose-Einstein condensates

Using group-theoretical methods and numerical simulations we show how to act on the topological charge of individual vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates by using control potentials with appropriate discrete symmetries. As examples of our methodology we study charge inversion and vortex erasing by acting on a set of control laser gaussian beams generating optical dipole traps.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2005

Soliton topology versus discrete symmetry in optical lattices

We address the existence of vortex solitons supported by azimuthally modulated lattices and reveal how the global lattice discrete symmetry has fundamental implications on the possible topological charges of solitons. We set a general ``charge rule'' using group-theory techniques, which holds for all lattices belonging to a given symmetry group. Focusing in the case of Bessel lattices allows us to derive also a overall stability rule for the allowed vortex solitons.

nlin.PS↗