Directional transport and nonlinear localization of light in a one-dimensional driven-dissipative photonic lattice

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how phase-controlled external drives can enable optical switching, directed light transport, and nonlinear localization in a one-dimensional photonic lattice, advancing control over light modes beyond linear regimes.

Contribution

It introduces a method for phase-tuned external driving to achieve dynamic control and nonlinear localization of light in a 1D photonic lattice, expanding the capabilities of photonic band structure engineering.

Findings

Experimental evidence of phase-controlled optical switching.

Nonlinear localization enabled at previously inaccessible frequencies.

Power tuning as a control parameter for light localization.

Abstract

Photonic lattices facilitate band structure engineering, supporting both localized and extended modes through their geometric design. However, greater control over these modes can be achieved by taking advantage of the interference effect between external drives with precisely tuned phases and photonic modes within the lattice. In this work, we build on this principle to demonstrate optical switching, directed light propagation and site-specific localization in a one-dimensional photonic lattice of coupled microresonators by resonantly driving the system with a coherent field of controlled phase. Importantly, our experimental results provide direct evidence that increased driving power acts as a tuning parameter enabling nonlinear localization at frequencies previously inaccessible in the linear regime. These findings open new avenues for controlling light propagation and localization in lattices with more elaborate band structures.