Rotating black hole geometries in a two-dimensional photon superfluid

Vocke, D., Maitland, C., Prain, A., Wilson, K. E., Biancalana, F., Wright, E. M., Marino, F. and Faccio, D. (2018) Rotating black hole geometries in a two-dimensional photon superfluid. Optica, 5(9), pp. 1099-1103. (doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.5.001099)

[img]
Preview
Text
168391.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

1MB

Abstract

Photon fluids have recently found applications in the simulation of a variety of physical phenomena such as superfluidity, vortex instabilities, and artificial gauge theories. Here we experimentally demonstrate the use of a photon fluid for analog gravity, i.e., the study of the physics of curved spacetime in the laboratory. While most analog gravity experiments are performed in 1+1 dimensions (one spatial plus time) and thus can only mimic 1+1D spacetime, we present a (room-temperature) photon superfluid where the geometry of a rotating acoustic black hole can be realized in 2+1D dimensions by an optical vortex. By measuring the local flow velocity and speed of waves in the photon superfluid, we identify a 2D region surrounded by an ergosphere and a spatially separated horizon.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Funding: H2020 European Research Council (ERC) (ERC GA 306559); H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) (659301); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/L015110/1, EP/M009122/1).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Prain, Dr Angus and Maitland-Warne, Calum and Faccio, Professor Daniele
Authors: Vocke, D., Maitland, C., Prain, A., Wilson, K. E., Biancalana, F., Wright, E. M., Marino, F., and Faccio, D.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Optica
Publisher:Optical Society of America
ISSN:2334-2536
ISSN (Online):2334-2536
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Optica 5(9):1099-1103
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record