Theory and Computation of Intrinsic Propagation Losses and Disorder-Induced Modes in Topological Photonic Crystal Waveguides Using Mode Expansion Techniques
Loading...
Authors
Sauer, Erik
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Topological photonics , Intrinsic losses , Disorder , Guided mode expansion , Bloch mode expansion , Photonic crystal , Slab waveguide
Alternative Title
Abstract
Photonic crystal (PC) slabs are promising optical systems for manipulating the flow of light on the nanoscale as a result of their combined in-plane lattice structure and slab waveguide properties. By introducing a line defect to the two-dimensional lattice, an efficient waveguide is formed that yields regions of fast and slow light. Although conventional PC waveguides are relatively well understood and have been partly optimized in terms of their intrinsic losses, they are prone to significant disorder-induced backscattering and propagation losses. Topological PC slab waveguides have been proposed as a means to help mitigate disorder-induced backscattering and offer additional control of light-matter interactions. However, many topological structures in optics are not yet well understood, due to being relatively new in the field of nanophotonics. In this thesis, we first investigate the intrinsic losses of topological PC slab waveguides using the semianalytical guided mode expansion method for perfectly periodic structures. We show that certain topological structures proposed in the literature are in fact intrinsically very lossy, while other, more recent “valley Hall” structures are able to achieve lossless propagation modes with good bandwidth. Second, we study the role of structural disorder using a Bloch mode expansion technique, which conveniently uses the solutions from the guided mode expansion as input. We find that the disorder-induced modes and impact on the photonic density of states for a topological structure is actually similar or worse than the W1 waveguide, and forms cavity-like modes with very small mode volumes. Future work is required to investigate how to mitigate the potential problems of disorder on these waveguides, and to assess which structures are more robust when coupling to resonators and spin-charged quantum emitters, where the topological waveguides show good promise.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.