Non-equilibrium phase transitions in coupled nonlinear optical resonators
arXiv:2205.01344 · doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01874-8
Abstract
Phase transitions and the associated symmetry breaking are at the heart of many physical phenomena. Coupled systems with multiple interacting degrees of freedom provide a fertile ground for emergent dynamics that is otherwise inaccessible in their solitary counterparts. Here we show that coupled nonlinear optical resonators can undergo self-organization in their spectrum leading to a first-order phase transition. We experimentally demonstrate such a spectral phase transition in time-multiplexed coupled optical parametric oscillators. We switch the nature of mutual coupling from dispersive to dissipative and access distinct spectral regimes of the parametric oscillator dimer. We observe abrupt spectral discontinuity at the first-order transition point which can pave the way for the realization of novel transition-edge sensors. Furthermore, we show how non-equilibrium phase transitions can lead to enhanced sensing, where the applied perturbation is not resolvable by the underlying linear system. Our results can pave the way for sensing using nonlinear driven-dissipative systems leading to performance enhancements without sacrificing sensitivity.
References in corpus (25)
- Floquet Time Crystals
- Quantum Time Crystals
- Spatiotemporal mode-locking in multimode fiber lasers
- Non-reciprocal phase transitions
- Network of Time-Multiplexed Optical Parametric Oscillators as a Coherent Ising Machine
- Distributed quantum sensing in a continuous variable entangled network
- 422 Million Q Planar Integrated All-Waveguide Resonator with a 3.4 Billion Absorption Limited Q and Sub-MHz Linewidth
- Electronically Programmable Photonic Molecule
- Super-efficient temporal solitons in mutually coupled optical cavities
- Thermodynamic theory of highly multimoded nonlinear optical systems
- Symmetry Breaking of Counter-Propagating Light in a Nonlinear Resonator
- Ultrasensitive micro-scale parity-time-symmetric ring laser gyroscope
- Synchronization of coupled optical microresonators
- Femtojoule, femtosecond all-optical switching in lithium niobate nanophotonics
- Tunable frequency combs based on dual microring resonators
- Nanophotonic spin-glass for realization of a coherent Ising machine
- Emergent Nonlinear Phenomena in a Driven Dissipative Photonic Dimer
- Dual-pumped degenerate Kerr oscillator in a silicon nitride microresonator
- Non-Dissipative Non-Hermitian Dynamics and Exceptional Points in Coupled Optical Parametric Oscillators
- Reduced models and design principles for half-harmonic generation in synchronously-pumped optical parametric oscillators
- Resonant self-pulsations in coupled nonlinear microcavities
- Nonlinear Coupling of Linearly Uncoupled Resonators
- Quantum Critical Detector : Amplifying Weak Signals Using First-Order Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions
- Self-organization, Pattern Formation, Cavity Solitons and Rogue Waves in Singly Resonant Optical Parametric Oscillators
- Critical fluctuations in an optical parametric oscillator: when light behaves like magnetism