Coherent control on the generation and annihilation of a pseudospin-induced optical vortex in a honeycomb photonic lattice

We experimentally investigate the coherently controllable generation and annihilation of a pseudospin-induced optical vortex in an optically induced honeycomb photonic lattice in a Λ-type 85 Rb atomic vapor cell. Three Gaussian coupling beams are coupled into the atomic gases to form a hexagonal interference pattern, which can induce a honeycomb photonic lattice under electromagnetically induced transparency. Then, two probe beams interfere with each other to form periodical fringes and cover one set of sublattice in the honeycomb lattice, corresponding to excite the K or K′ valleys in momentum space. By properly adjusting the experimental parameters, the generation and annihilation of the induced optical vortex can be effectively controlled. The theoretical simulations based on the Dirac and Schrödinger equations are performed to explore the underlying mechanisms, which will support the observations. The demonstrated properties of such controllable optical vortex may lay the foundation for the design of vortex-based optical devices with multidimensional tunability.