Synthetic gauge fields for light beams in optical resonators

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical method to create artificial magnetic fields for light in optical resonators, leading to Landau level structures and cyclotron motion, enabling new control over light behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical approach to generate synthetic gauge fields for light in optical cavities using anamorphic optical elements.

Findings

Landau level structures observed in frequency spectrum

Cyclotron motion of optical fields demonstrated theoretically

Potential for advanced light manipulation in resonators

Abstract

A method to realize artificial magnetic fields for light waves trapped in passive optical cavities with anamorphic optical elements is theoretically proposed. In particular, when a homogeneous magnetic field is realized, a highly-degenerate Landau level structure for the frequency spectrum of the transverse resonator modes is obtained, corresponding to a cyclotron motion of the optical cavity field. This can be probed by transient excitation of the passive optical resonator.