Localization of light in a lamellar structure with left-handed medium : the light wheel

TL;DR

This paper investigates a novel lamellar structure with left-handed media that supports a unique rotating mode called a light wheel, which acts as a new type of cavity and can be excited through various coupling methods.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a light wheel mode in a lamellar structure with left-handed media, expanding the understanding of mode localization and cavity design.

Findings

Light wheel mode exhibits rotation within the structure.

The mode can be excited via evanescent coupling or sources.

The structure suppresses guided modes of dielectric slabs.

Abstract

The contra-directional coupling between a left-handed monomode waveguide and a right-handed monomode waveguide is rigorously studied using a complex plane analysis. Light is shown to rotate in this lamellar structure forming a very exotic mode which we have called a light wheel. The light wheel can be excited using evanescent coupling or by placing sources in one of the waveguides. This structure can thus be seen as a new type of cavity. It is a way to suppress the guided mode of a dielectric slab.