Nonreciprocal resonant transmission/reflection based on a one-dimensional photonic crystal adjacent to the magneto-optical metal film

TL;DR

This paper presents a design for nonreciprocal optical transmission and reflection using a one-dimensional photonic crystal coupled with a magneto-optical metal film, enabling one-way light flow for optical diodes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to achieve nonreciprocal optical behavior by combining 1D photonic crystals with magneto-optical metals and analyzes it with an effective admittance-matching theory.

Findings

Nonreciprocal surface modes are found at the interface.

External magnetic field breaks time-reversal symmetry.

Design enables one-way transmission and reflection.

Abstract

We report the design of nonreciprocal resonant transmission/reflection using a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) adjacent to the magneto-optical (MO) metal film. The nonreciprocal surface modes are found at the interface between the PC and MO metal within the forbidden band of native PC structure. Breaking time-reversal symmetry using external magnetic field gives rise of such unique nonreciprocal properties. Quantitatively understanding of nonreciprocal resonant optical transmission/reflection behavior is performed using an effective admittance-matching theory. With excitation of the nonreciprocal surface modes, light can transmit and be reflected in one-way. Such design offers promising potential in realizing the optical diode.