Possible Realization of Directional Optical Waveguides in Photonic Crystals with Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to create one-way optical waveguides in photonic crystals by breaking time-reversal symmetry using non-reciprocal media, enabling unidirectional light flow similar to quantum Hall edge states.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for realizing unidirectional photonic waveguides in photonic crystals with broken time-reversal symmetry, inspired by quantum Hall effects.

Findings

Conceptual demonstration of one-way waveguides in photonic crystals.

Use of non-reciprocal (Faraday-effect) media to break time-reversal symmetry.

Potential for unidirectional electromagnetic energy flow.

Abstract

We show how in principle to construct analogs of quantum Hall edge states in "photonic crystals" made with non-reciprocal (Faraday-effect) media. These form "one-way waveguides" that allow electromagnetic energy to flow in one direction only.