Photonic realization of the relativistic Kronig-Penney model and relativistic Tamm surface states

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how fiber Bragg gratings with phase defects can simulate relativistic quantum models and surface states, revealing their spectral properties through optical measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a photonic platform to realize and study the relativistic Kronig-Penney model and Tamm surface states using fiber Bragg gratings with phase defects.

Findings

Band structure mapped into FBG spectral response

Tamm surface states appear as narrow resonance peaks

Photonics simulation of relativistic quantum phenomena

Abstract

Photonic analogues of the relativistic Kronig-Penney model and of relativistic surface Tamm states are proposed for light propagation in fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) with phase defects. A periodic sequence of phase slips in the FBG realizes the relativistic Kronig-Penney model, the band structure of which being mapped into the spectral response of the FBG. For the semi-infinite FBG Tamm surface states can appear and can be visualized as narrow resonance peaks in the transmission spectrum of the grating.