On-Chip Photonic Localization in Aharonov-Bohm Cages Composed of Microring Lattices

Nano Lett. 2024 Apr 9. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c05095. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Flatband localization endowed with robustness holds great promise for disorder-immune light transport, particularly in the advancement of optical communication and signal processing. However, effectively harnessing these principles for practical applications in nanophotonic devices remains a significant challenge. Herein, we delve into the investigation of on-chip photonic localization in AB cages composed of indirectly coupled microring lattices. By strategically vertically shifting the auxiliary rings, we successfully introduce a magnetic flux of π into the microring lattice, thereby facilitating versatile control over the localization and delocalization of light. Remarkably, the compact edge modes of this structure exhibit intriguing topological properties, rendering them strongly robust against disorders, regardless of the size of the system. Our findings open up new avenues for exploring the interaction between flatbands and topological photonics on integrated platforms.

Keywords: flatband; microring resonators; photonic gauge potential; topological photonics.