On a pragmatic approach optical analogues of gravitational attractors

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical framework for creating optical analogues of celestial gravitational attractors using static refractive index mappings, enabling light confinement and trapping for photonic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to emulate celestial mechanics in optical systems through feasible refractive index designs at optical frequencies.

Findings

Refractive index mappings can mimic gravitational attraction effects.

Light trapping and confinement are achievable with static, planar optical structures.

Potential applications include optical memories and resonators.

Abstract

In our work we theoretically demonstrate a refractive index mapping to enable optical analogues to celestial mechanics, where is possible to achieve light confinement and trapping by means of a static, and planar, refractive index mapping which could be implemented under current technological and [meta]material constraints at optical frequencies. The mathematical and physical background to make possible these effects bring forth an exciting ground to test celestial mechanics in the laboratory, and provides the key to enable miscellany of planar optical system that are of great interest to photonic applications, namely optical time delays, transient optical memories and random resonators.