Artificial Graphene and Related Photonic Lattices Generated With a Simple Method

Abstract

We fabricate honeycomb and related photonic lattices in a nonlinear crystal with a simple method that is based on the optical Fourier transformation through an amplitude mask (six-hole aperture) superimposed with a phase mask (three tilted glass plates). Compared with using the spatial light modulator, our method is cost-effective and easy to control for almost every one. Numerically, we use the transmittance function to describe the amplitude mask instead of treating each hole as a simple point source and give out the field distribution function of the honeycomb lattice beam. Experimentally, the induced lattice structure is examined by the Brillouin zone spectroscopy and the far-field diffraction pattern, as well as by monitoring the linear and nonlinear propagation of a probe beam. In addition to the honeycomb, vortex, and Kagome lattices, we illustrate the phase conditions for optical induction of molybdenum disulfide-like photonic lattices for the first time. Our approach can be easily extended to generate more complex microstructures by designing the amplitude and phase mask properly, promising a convenient way to establish a photonic platform for various applications.