Optical diametric drive acceleration through action--reaction symmetry breaking

Wimmer M, Regensburger A, Bersch C, Miri MA, Batz S, Onishchukov G, Christodoulides DN, Peschel U (2013)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Book Volume: 9

Pages Range: 780-784

Journal Issue: 12

DOI: 10.1038/nphys2777

Abstract

Newton's third law of motion is one of the pillars of classical physics. This fundamental principle states that the forces two bodies exert on each other are equal and opposite. Had the resulting accelerations been oriented in the same direction, this would have instead led to a counterintuitive phenomenon, that of diametric drive. In such a hypothetical arrangement, two interacting particles constantly accelerate each other in the same direction through a violation of the action--reaction symmetry. Although in classical mechanics any realization of this process requires one of the two particles to have a negative mass and hence is strictly forbidden, it could nevertheless be feasible in periodic structures where the effective mass can also attain a negative sign. Here we report the first experimental observation of such diametric drive acceleration for pulses propagating in a nonlinear optical mesh lattice. The demonstrated reversal of action--reaction symmetry could enable altogether new possibilities for frequency conversion and pulse-steering applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Additional Organisation(s)

Involved external institutions

University of Central Florida (UCF) United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Wimmer, M., Regensburger, A., Bersch, C., Miri, M.-A., Batz, S., Onishchukov, G.,... Peschel, U. (2013). Optical diametric drive acceleration through action--reaction symmetry breaking. Nature Physics, 9(12), 780-784. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2777

MLA:

Wimmer, Martin, et al. "Optical diametric drive acceleration through action--reaction symmetry breaking." Nature Physics 9.12 (2013): 780-784.

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