Non-Hermitian state-switching mechanism and its application to optical modulator technology

Abstract

We propose a novel wave-modulation principle enabled by characteristic non-Hermitian dynamics associated with a branch-point singularity known as exceptional point (EP). We show an adiabatic process narrowly bypassing an EP produces a robust switching effect between two orthogonal final states possibly with indefinitely small physical stimuli. Application of this state-switching effect to a plausible optical waveguide structure demonstrates intriguing possibility of realizing Tbit/s-level high-extinction optical modulators, which are unavailable from the conventional interferometric approaches thus far. © 2023, META Conference. All rights reserved.