A new generation of interacting resonators: non-Hermitian and time modulated coupling – WHEEL

Coupled resonances across many areas of science, e.g. physics and chemistry, serve as defining pillars of their fields. In recent years, fundamental studies and applications have experienced a large evolution in two main directions: non-Hermitian physics, accounting for the inherent dissipative character of most realistic resonators, leveraging novel concepts such as the parity-time symmetry breaking and quasinormal mode theory (QNM); and time modulation of the resonator parameters, leading to new paradigms such as adiabatic frequency conversion and space-time modulation.
WHEEL aims at developing nanophotonic devices such as phase-locked nanolaser arrays and non-reciprocal devices, based on a new generation of coupled resonators. Namely, WHEEL seeks to implement: i) non-conservative –i.e. non-Hermitian– coupling engineering: ii) non-reciprocity through time translation symmetry breaking (temporal modulations). Device demonstrators will be realized using photonic crystal coupled nanocavity arrays. An original aspect is the use of experimental acoustic platforms as toy models for testing the Non-Hermitian theory developed herein.