Dynamics of optical vortices in van der Waals materials

Yaniv Kurman, Raphael Dahan, Hanan Herzig Shenfux, Gilles Rosolen, Eli Janzen, James H. Edgar, Frank H.L. Koppens, Ido Kaminer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Quantized vortices are topological defects found in different two-dimensional geometries, from liquid crystals to ferromagnets, famously involved in spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase transitions. Their optical counterparts appear in planar geometries as a universal wave phenomenon, possessing topologically protected orbital angular momentum (OAM). So far, the spatiotemporal dynamics of optical vortices, including vortex-pair creation and annihilation, has been observed only in Bose–Einstein condensates. Here we observe optical vortices in van der Waals materials and measure their dynamics, including events of pair creation and annihilation. Vortices of opposite OAM are involved in pair creation/annihilation events, and their relative signs determine the surrounding field profile throughout their motion. The vortices are made of phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride, which we directly probe using free electrons in an ultrafast transmission electron microscope. Our findings promote future investigations of vortex phenomena in van der Waals platforms, toward their use for chiral plasmonics, quantum simulators, and control over selection rules in light–matter interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)612-618
Number of pages7
JournalOptica
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 May 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dynamics of optical vortices in van der Waals materials'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this