Light propagation in locally symmetric arrays of waveguides

在理论和实验的密切合作中，这个项目将解决一类新的材料，其特点是它们由表现出局部对称性的成分的组合组成。这些可以是离散反射，也可以是平移对称。作为一个实验平台，我们使用渐变耦合波导阵列，它在实现各种不同的结构参数方面表现出高度的灵活性，从而实现了大量的局部对称性。这个项目的主要目的是系统地探索局部对称材料的波力学性质，从而深入了解相应的光波在波导阵列中的传播机制。由于局部对称性的已证实的影响，以及将它们结合在一起的多种可能性，对波传播特性进行分类是至关重要的。通过发展离散局部对称光子结构的理论框架，我们将得到实验上观察到的不变的非局域电流。依赖于局域对称性诱导不变量的系统模式展开和分类是探索所有由此产生的现象的基石。后者包括基于局域对称性的波局部化的新控制和完全局域对称阵列中理想传输共振的设计，这些都将在理论和实验上进行探索。尽管我们的研究具有深刻的根本性，即。我们从理论和实验上阐述了一类在波动动力学方面具有独特特性的新材料，它最终将产生重大的应用影响，因为具有局部对称性的新的和创新的光操纵途径是必须期待的。

In a close collaboration of theory and experiment this project will address a novel class of materials which are characterized by the fact that they consist of a combination of components exhibiting local symmetries. These could be either discrete reflection or translation symmetries. As an experimental platform we employ arrays of evanescently coupled waveguides, which exhibit a high degree of flexibility in realizing various different structural parameters and consequently a plethora of local symmetries. The main objective of this project is the systematic exploration of the wave mechanical properties of locally symmetric materials thereby aiming at a deep understanding of the corresponding light wave propagation mechanisms in the array of waveguides. Due to the proven impact of local symmetries and the multitude of possibilities for combining them a classification of the characteristics of the wave propagation is of utmost importance. By developing the theoretical framework of discrete locally symmetric photonicstructures we will derive invariant non-local currents which will be observed experimentally. A systematic mode expansion and classification relying on the local symmetry induced invariants represents a cornerstone for the exploration for all resulting phenomena. The latter include novel control of wave localization due to the presence of local symmetries and the design of perfectly transmitting resonances in completely locally symmetric arrays which will be explored both theoretically and experimentally. Although our research is of deeply fundamental character, ie. we elaborate theoretically and experimentally on a new class of material with unique characteristics in terms of wave dynamics, it eventually will have significant application-oriented impact as with local symmetries new and innovative pathways to light manipulation have to be expected.