Observation of π\pi solitons in oscillating waveguide arrays

Floquet systems with periodically varying in time parameters enable realization of unconventional topological phases that do not exist in static systems with constant parameters and that are frequently accompanied by appearance of novel types of the topological states. Among such Floquet systems are the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattices with periodically-modulated couplings that can support at their edges anomalous $\pi$ modes of topological origin despite the fact that the lattice spends only half of the evolution period in topologically nontrivial phase, while during other half-period it is topologically trivial. Here, using Su-Schrieffer-Heeger arrays composed from periodically oscillating waveguides inscribed in transparent nonlinear optical medium, we report experimental observation of photonic anomalous $\pi$ modes residing at the edge or in the corner of the one- or two-dimensional arrays, respectively, and demonstrate a new class of topological $\pi$ solitons bifurcating from such modes in the topological gap of the Floquet spectrum at high powers. $\pi$ solitons reported here are strongly oscillating nonlinear Floquet states exactly reproducing their profiles after each longitudinal period of the structure. They can be dynamically stable in both one- and two-dimensional oscillating waveguide arrays, the latter ones representing the first realization of the Floquet photonic higher-order topological insulator, while localization properties of such $\pi$ solitons are determined by their power.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Science Bulleti

Observation of edge solitons in topological trimer arrays

We report the experimental observation of nonlinear light localization and edge soliton formation at the edges of fs-laser written trimer waveguide arrays, where transition from nontopological to topological phases is controlled by the spacing between neighboring trimers. We found that, in the former regime, edge solitons occur only above a considerable power threshold, whereas in the latter one they bifurcate from linear states. Edge solitons are observed in a broad power range where their propagation constant falls into one of the topological gaps of the system, while partial delocalization is observed when considerable nonlinearity drives the propagation constant into an allowed band, causing coupling with bulk modes. Our results provide direct experimental evidence of the coexistence and selective excitation in the same or in different topological gaps of two types of topological edge solitons with different internal structures, which can rarely be observed even in nontopological systems. This also constitutes the first experimental evidence of formation of topological solitons in a nonlinear system with more than one topological gap.The authors acknowledge funding of this study by RSF (grant 21‐12‐00096). Also, support by CEX2019‐000910‐S [funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033], Fundació Cellex, Fundació Mir‐Puig, and Generalitat de Catalunya (CERCA) is acknowledged.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Observation of linear and nonlinear light localization at the edges of moiré arrays

We observe linear and nonlinear light localization at the edges and in the corners of truncated moiré arrays created by the superposition of periodic mutually twisted at Pythagorean angles square sublattices. Experimentally exciting corner linear modes in the femtosecond-laser written moiré arrays we find drastic differences in their localization properties in comparison with the bulk excitations. We also address the impact of nonlinearity on the corner and bulk modes and experimentally observe the crossover from linear quasilocalized states to the surface solitons emerging at the higher input powers. Our results constitute the first experimental demonstration of localization phenomena induced by truncation of periodic moiré structures in photonic systems.This research is funded by the research Project No. FFUU- 2021-0003 of the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and partially funded by the RSF Grant No. 21-12-00096. F. Y. acknowledges support from Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leaders Plan (Grant No. 20XD1402000) and the NSFC (Grant No. 91950120). S. K. I. and L. T. acknowledge support by Grants No. CEX2019-000910-S and No. PGC2018-097035-B-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, Fundació Cellex, Fundació Mir-Puig, and Generalitat de Catalunya (CERCA).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Generalized quantum measurements. Part I: Information properties of soft quantum measurements

A special class of soft quantum measurements as a physical model of the fuzzy measurements widely used in physics is introduced and its information properties are studied in detail.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures, 25 ref

Comparative characteristics of quantum key distribution protocols with alphabets corresponding to the regular polyhedrons on the Bloch sphere

ABSTRACT Possibilities of improving characteristics of quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols via variation of character set in quantum alphabets are investigated. QKD protocols with discrete alphabets, letters of which form regular polyhedrons on the Bloch sphere (tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, icosahedron, and dodecahedron, which have 4, 6, 8, 12, and 20 vertexes) , and QKD protocol with continuous alphabet, which corresponds to the limiting case of a polyhedron with infinitive number of vertexes, are considered. Stability of such QKD protocols to the interceptresend and optimal eavesdropping strategies at the individual attacks, is studied in detail. It is shown that in case of optimal eavesdropping strategy, after safety bases reconciliation, critical error rate of the QKD protocol with continuous alphabet surpasses all other protocols. Without basis reconciliation the highest critical error rate have the protocol with tetrahedron-type alphabet