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Coherent perfect rotation

Michael Crescimanno, Nathan J. Dawson, and James H. Andrews
Phys. Rev. A 86, 031807(R) – Published 28 September 2012

Abstract

Two classes of conservative, linear, optical rotary effects (optical activity and Faraday rotation) are distinguished by their behavior under time reversal. Faraday rotation, but not optical activity, is capable of coherent perfect rotation, by which we mean the complete transfer of counterpropagating coherent light fields into their orthogonal polarization. Unlike coherent perfect absorption, however, this process is explicitly energy conserving and reversible. Our study highlights the necessity of time-reversal-odd processes (not just absorption) and coherence in perfect mode conversion and thus informs the optimization of active multiport optical devices.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 21 February 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.86.031807

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Michael Crescimanno, Nathan J. Dawson, and James H. Andrews

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio 44555-2001, USA

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Issue

Vol. 86, Iss. 3 — September 2012

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