Particle-like behavior of topological defects in linear wave packets in photonic graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that topological defects like optical vortices in wavepackets at the Dirac point of photonic graphene behave as particle-like entities, interacting and evolving according to classical dynamics even without interactions.

Contribution

It reveals that topological excitations in non-interacting wavepackets can be treated as particles with dynamics, advancing understanding of wavepacket behavior in photonic systems.

Findings

Optical vortices form and evolve at the Dirac point in photonic graphene.

Topological defects exhibit particle-like interactions and trajectories.

Wavepacket topological excitations obey classical dynamical laws.

Abstract

Topological defects, such as quantum vortices, determine the properties of quantum fluids. The study of their properties has been at the center of activity in solid state and BEC communities. On the other hand, the non-trivial behavior of wavepackets, such as the self-accelerating Airy beams, has also been intriguing physicists. Here, we study the formation, evolution, and interaction of optical vortices in wavepackets at the Dirac point in photonic graphene. We show that even in a non-interacting two-component system the topological excitations appearing in a wavepacket can still be considered as "particles", capable of mutual interaction, with their trajectory obeying the laws of dynamics.