OPTICS
| Patsyk A, Sivan U, Segev M and Bandres MA (2020), "Observation of branched flow of light", Nature., July, 2020. Vol. 583(7814), pp. 60-65. |
| Abstract: When waves propagate through a weak disordered potential with correlation length larger than the wavelength, they form channels (branches) of enhanced intensity that keep dividing as the waves propagate1. This fundamental wave phenomenon is known as branched flow. It was first observed for electrons1–6 and for microwave cavities7,8, and it is generally expected for waves with vastly different wavelengths, for example, branched flow has been suggested as a focusing mechanism for ocean waves9–11, and was suggested to occur also in sound waves12 and ultrarelativistic electrons in graphene13. Branched flow may act as a trigger for the formation of extreme nonlinear events14–17 and as a channel through which energy is transmitted in a scattering medium18. Here we present the experimental observation of the branched flow of light. We show that, as light propagates inside a thin soap membrane, smooth thickness variations in the film act as a correlated disordered potential, focusing the light into filaments that display the features of branched flow: scaling of the distance to the first branching point and the probability distribution of the intensity. We find that, counterintuitively, despite the random variations in the medium and the linear nature of the effect, the filaments remain collimated throughout their paths. Bringing branched flow to the field of optics, with its full arsenal of tools, opens the door to the investigation of a plethora of new ideas such as branched flow in nonlinear media, in curved space or in active systems with gain. Furthermore, the labile nature of soap films leads to a regime in which the branched flow of light interacts and affects the underlying disorder through radiation pressure and gradient force. |
BibTeX:
@article{Patsyk2020,
author = {Patsyk, Anatoly and Sivan, Uri and Segev, Mordechai and Bandres, Miguel A.},
title = {Observation of branched flow of light},
journal = {Nature},
year = {2020},
volume = {583},
number = {7814},
pages = {60--65},
note = {Number: 7814 Publisher: Nature Publishing Group},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2376-8},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-020-2376-8}
}
|
| Mattheakis M, Pitsios IJ, Tsironis GP and Tzortzakis S (2016), "Extreme events in complex linear and nonlinear photonic media", Chaos, Solitons & Fractals., March, 2016. Vol. 84(Supplement C), pp. 73-80. |
| Abstract: Ocean rogue waves (RW) are huge solitary waves that have for long triggered the interest of scientists. The RWs emerge in a complex environment and it is still under investigation if they are due to linear or nonlinear processes. Recent works have demonstrated that RWs appear in various other physical systems such as microwaves, nonlinear crystals, cold atoms, etc. In this work we investigate optical wave propagation in strongly scattering random lattices embedded in the bulk of transparent glasses. In the linear regime we observe the appearance of extreme waves, RW-type, that depend solely on the scattering properties of the medium. Interestingly, the addition of nonlinearity does not modify the RW statistics, while as the nonlinearities are increased multiple-filamentation and intensity clamping destroy the RW statistics. Numerical simulations agree nicely with the experimental findings and altogether prove that optical rogue waves are generated through the linear strong scattering in such complex environments. |
BibTeX:
@article{Mattheakis2016,
author = {Mattheakis, M. and Pitsios, I. J. and Tsironis, G. P. and Tzortzakis, S.},
title = {Extreme events in complex linear and nonlinear photonic media},
journal = {Chaos, Solitons & Fractals},
year = {2016},
volume = {84},
number = {Supplement C},
pages = {73--80},
note = {00003},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960077916000175},
doi = {10.1016/j.chaos.2016.01.008}
}
|
| Mathis A, Froehly L, Toenger S, Dias F, Genty G and Dudley JM (2015), "Caustics and Rogue Waves in an Optical Sea", Scientific Reports., August, 2015. Vol. 5, pp. 12822. |
BibTeX:
@article{Mathis2015,
author = {Mathis, Amaury and Froehly, Luc and Toenger, Shanti and Dias, Frédéric and Genty, Goëry and Dudley, John M.},
title = {Caustics and Rogue Waves in an Optical Sea},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2015},
volume = {5},
pages = {12822},
url = {http://www.nature.com/articles/srep12822},
doi = {10.1038/srep12822}
}
|
| Ni X, Lai Y-C and Wang W-X (2012), "Emergence of scaling associated with complex branched wave structures in optical medium", Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science., November, 2012. Vol. 22(4), pp. 043116-043116-11. |
| Abstract: Branched wave structures, an unconventional wave propagation pattern, can arise in random media. Experimental evidence has accumulated, revealing the occurrence of these waves in systems ranging from microwave and optical systems to solid-state devices. Experiments have also established the universal feature that the wave-intensity statistics deviate from Gaussian and typically possess a long-tail distribution, implying the existence of spatially localized regions with extraordinarily high intensity concentration (“hot” spots). Despite previous efforts, the origin of branched wave pattern is currently an issue of debate. Recently, we proposed a “minimal” model of wave propagation and scattering in optical media, taking into account the essential physics for generating robust branched flows: (1) a finite-size medium for linear wave propagation and (2) random scatterers whose refractive indices deviate continuously from that of the background medium. Here we provide extensive numerical evidence and a comprehensive analytic treatment of the scaling behavior to establish that branched wave patterns can emerge as a general phenomenon in wide parameter regime in between the weak-scattering limit and Anderson localization. The basic physical mechanisms to form branched waves are breakup of waves by a single scatterer and constructive interference of broken waves from multiple scatterers. Despite simplicity of our model, analysis of the scattering field naturally yields an algebraic (power-law) statistic in the high wave-intensity distribution, indicating that our model is able to capture the generic physical origin of these special wave patterns. The insights so obtained can be used to better understand the origin of complex extreme wave patterns, whose occurrences can have significant impact on the performance of the underlying physical systems or devices. |
BibTeX:
@article{Ni2012,
author = {Ni, Xuan and Lai, Ying-Cheng and Wang, Wen-Xu},
title = {Emergence of scaling associated with complex branched wave structures in optical medium},
journal = {Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science},
year = {2012},
volume = {22},
number = {4},
pages = {043116--043116--11},
url = {http://chaos.aip.org/resource/1/chaoeh/v22/i4/p043116_s1},
doi = {10.1063/1.4766757}
}
|
| Ni X, Wang W-X and Lai Y-C (2011), "Origin of branched wave structures in optical media and long-tail algebraic intensity distribution", EPL (Europhysics Letters)., November, 2011. Vol. 96(4), pp. 44002. |
BibTeX:
@article{Ni2011,
author = {Ni, Xuan and Wang, Wen-Xu and Lai, Ying-Cheng},
title = {Origin of branched wave structures in optical media and long-tail algebraic intensity distribution},
journal = {EPL (Europhysics Letters)},
year = {2011},
volume = {96},
number = {4},
pages = {44002},
url = {http://stacks.iop.org/0295-5075/96/i=4/a=44002?key=crossref.4501fc9f2153696dab0b802d47ba4941},
doi = {10.1209/0295-5075/96/44002}
}
|
| Berry MV and Klein S (1996), "Colored diffraction catastrophes", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences., March, 1996. Vol. 93(6), pp. 2614-2619. |
| Abstract: On fine scales, caustics produced with white light show vividly colored diffraction fringes. For caustics described by the elementary catastrophes of singularity theory, the colors are characteristic of the type of singularity. We study the diffraction colors of the fold and cusp catastrophes. The colors can be simulated computationally as the superposition of monochromatic patterns for different wavelengths. Far from the caustic, where the luminosity contrast is negligible, the fringe colors persist; an asymptotic theory explains why. Experiments with caustics produced by refraction through irregular bathroom-window glass show good agreement with theory. Colored fringes near the cusp reveal fine lines that are not present in any of the monochromatic components; these lines are explained in terms of partial decoherence between rays with widely differing path differences. |
BibTeX:
@article{Berry1996,
author = {Berry, M. V. and Klein, S.},
title = {Colored diffraction catastrophes},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
year = {1996},
volume = {93},
number = {6},
pages = {2614--2619},
url = {http://www.pnas.org/content/93/6/2614}
}
|
|
Berry MV and Upstill C (1980), "Catastrophe optics: morphologies of caustics and their diffraction patterns", Progress in Optics XVIII. , pp. 257-346.
[BibTeX] |
BibTeX:
@article{Berry1980,
author = {Berry, M. V. and Upstill, C.},
title = {Catastrophe optics: morphologies of caustics and their diffraction patterns},
journal = {Progress in Optics XVIII},
year = {1980},
pages = {257--346}
}
|
| Berry MV, Nye JF and Wright FJ (1979), "The Elliptic Umbilic Diffraction Catastrophe", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences., April, 1979. Vol. 291(1382), pp. 453-484. |
BibTeX:
@article{Berry1979,
author = {Berry, M. V. and Nye, J. F. and Wright, F. J.},
title = {The Elliptic Umbilic Diffraction Catastrophe},
journal = {Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences},
year = {1979},
volume = {291},
number = {1382},
pages = {453--484},
doi = {10.1098/rsta.1979.0039}
}
|
| Berry MV (1977), "Focusing and twinkling: critical exponents from catastrophes in non-Gaussian random short waves", Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General., December, 1977. Vol. 10(12), pp. 2061-2081. |
BibTeX:
@article{Berry1977,
author = {Berry, M V},
title = {Focusing and twinkling: critical exponents from catastrophes in non-Gaussian random short waves},
journal = {Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General},
year = {1977},
volume = {10},
number = {12},
pages = {2061--2081},
doi = {10.1088/0305-4470/10/12/015}
}
|
