Nontrivial coupling of light into a defect: the interplay of nonlinearity and topology

Abstract

The flourishing of topological photonics in the last decade was achieved mainly due to developments in linear topological photonic structures. However, when nonlinearity is introduced, many intriguing questions arise. For example, are there universal fingerprints of underlying topology when modes are coupled by nonlinearity, and what can happen to topological invariants during nonlinear propagation? To explore these questions, here we experimentally demonstrate nonlinearity-induced coupling to topologically protected edge states using a photonic platform, and theoretically develop a general framework for interpreting the mode-coupling dynamics in nonlinear topological systems. Performed in laser-written photonic Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattices, our experiments reveal nonlinear coupling of light into a nontrivial edge or interface defect channel otherwise not permissible due to topological protection. Our theory explains well all the observations. Furthermore, we introduce the concepts of inherited and emergent nonlinear topological phenomena, and a protocol capable of unveiling the interplay of nonlinearity and topology. These concepts are applicable for other nonlinear topological systems, either in higher dimensions or beyond our photonic platform.

arXiv commentare welcome!

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• Optical control of topological end states via soliton formation in a 1D lattice
• Topological bulk solitons in a nonlinear photonic Chern insulator
• Observation of nonlinear topological corner states originating from different spectral charges
• Topological gap solitons in Rabi Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattices
• Topological solitons in coupled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger waveguide arrays
• Floquet topological insulators with hybrid edges
• Topological edge solitons in \{chi}(2) waveguide arrays
• Tunable beam splitting via photorefractive nonlinearity and its applications in chiral waveguide induction and vortex generation
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• Symmetry induced selective excitation of topological states in SSH waveguide arrays
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• Dark solitons in nonlinear Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattices
• Photonic quantum Hall effects