1202.2729 (Otto L. Muskens et al.)

Nonlinear reciprocity breaking through ultrafast dynamics in a random
photonic medium    [PDF]

Otto L. Muskens, Paul Venn, Timmo van der Beek, Thomas Wellens

We demonstrate that ultrafast nonlinear dynamics gives rise to reciprocity
breaking in a random photonic medium. Reciprocity breaking is observed via the
suppression of coherent backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization of
light. The effect is observed in a pump-probe configuration where the pump
induces an ultrafast step-change of the refractive index during the dwell time
of the probe light in the material. The dynamical suppression of coherent
backscattering is reproduced well by a multiple scattering Monte Carlo
simulation. Ultrafast reciprocity breaking provides a distinct mechanism in
nonlinear optical media which opens up avenues for the active manipulation of
mesoscopic transport, random lasers, and photon localization.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.2729