Observation Of Poynting’S Vector Reversal In An Active Photonic Cavity

Keywords

(050.2230) Fabry-Perot; (140.3410) Laser resonators; (260.3160) Interference

Abstract

Optical power flow along an active cavity having net gain can differ dramatically from that in a passive cavity. We report the first observation of Poynting’s vector reversal in an active cavity under scattering boundary conditions. At a sub-lasing gain,which we call Poynting’s threshold,a null develops in Poynting’s vector,which divides the cavity into sections with oppositely directed energy flows. Furthermore,we demonstrate that the direction of Poynting’s vector at a fixed point in an active cavity can be controllably reversed without changing its magnitude via an intra-cavity passive element,thereby suggesting a potential methodology for optical switching.

Publication Date

11-20-2016

Publication Title

Optica

Volume

3

Issue

11

Number of Pages

1194-1200

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.3.001194

Socpus ID

84996551934 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84996551934

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