Superconductor Optical Devices Modified By Patterned Illumination

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that patterned illumination of thin superconductors can create controllable two-dimensional photonic media with tunable optical properties, enabling new device functionalities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to modulate superconductor permittivity via patterned light, allowing for simple fabrication of tunable photonic structures.

Findings

Patterned illumination alters Cooper-pair density and permittivity.

Different light patterns produce various optical device configurations.

The approach offers advantages over traditional superconductor photonic crystals.

Abstract

We show that a thin superconductor slab illuminated by a desired pattern of light behaves as a completely controllable two-dimensional photonic media that could be applied in a wide range of optical devices. In this case, the permittivity spatial variation, which is fundamentally required in many photonic devices, is achieved by means of selective variation of cooper-pair density under patterned irradiation. The process of photo-effect in superconductors is the proposed mechanism for deformation of spatial distribution of cooper pair density and consequently non-uniform permittivity. In this perspective, the effects of non-uniform photon irradiation on the density of paired carriers and two-dimensional position dependent permittivity are investigated. Applying these results, the optical properties of several illumination patterns leading to the formation of different types of optical devices are studied. As we will show, in contrast to previous superconductor photonic crystals, the proposed structure has promising advantages such as possibility of implementing tunable heterostructures, optical gratings, and permittivity gradients with significant simplicity.