Open Conference Systems, DDAYS LAC 2024 Main Conference

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Front Propagation in a Bistable Optical Chain with Nonreciprocal Coupling
Manuel Benjamin Díaz-Zúñiga, Pedro Aguilera Rojas, Marcel Clerc

Building: Cero Infinito
Room: 1101
Date: 2024-12-13 02:00 PM – 02:20 PM
Last modified: 2024-11-22

Abstract


Fronts are nonlinear waves that appear in several everyday physical contexts. The propagation of fronts, such as fires, weather fronts, and the spread of diseases, has been the subject of special attention. An example from daily life is domino waves, which propagate equally towards the left or right flank owing to the reciprocal coupling between each piece, where both elements of the same system interact equally independently of the direction of interaction. However, the effect of nonreciprocal coupling on the front propagation where the energy emitter and receiver are not exchangeable is not well understood. Based on an experiment on a bistable optical chain forced by nonreciprocal optical feedback, we can study the propagation of fronts. A spatial light modulator and high-resolution optical feedback allow us to control the initial conditions and change the coupling between the chain elements shifting the optical feedback in $\alpha$. The spatiotemporal evolution and front speeds were characterized, showing the maximum front speed for large nonreciprocal couplings. A theoretical model is derived for interacting optical elements in a liquid crystal light valve with nonreciprocal optical feedback. The numerical simulations agree with the experimental observations.