A single photonic cavity with two independent physical synthetic dimensions

Abstract

Optically contorting into new dimensions Creating synthetic dimensions has generated interest in many branches of science, ranging from ultracold atomic physics to photonics. The ability to do so provides a versatile platform for realizing effective gauge potentials and novel topological physics that might be difficult or impossible to realize in real systems. Dutt et al. show that a structured optical ring cavity can sustain more than one synthetic dimension. Under modulation, coupling the different degrees of freedom within the resonator is used synthesize two additional dimensions. The authors are then able to emulate many complex physical phenomena usually associated with condensed matter systems. Science , this issue p. 59