Thin-film based optical analogue of a phenomenon in special relativity known as the Thomas Effect

Authors

Annelle Raphayette T. Chua Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University
Benjamin B. Dingel Ateneo Innovation Center, Ateneo de Manila University and Nasfine Photonics Inc.
Aria Buenaventura Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University
Katsuya O. Akamatsu Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University

Abstract

We present a low-cost, simple design, thin-film-based Michelson-Gires-Tournois Interferometer (MGTI) as an optical analogue to the special relativity phenomenon known as Thomas effect. The MGTI is a typical Michelson Interferometer (MI) where one of the reflecting mirrors is replaced by Gires-Tournois Resonator (GTR). On the other hand, the Thomas Effect is a perceived rotation of the coordinate axis as observed at the initial reference frame when two relativistic non-collinear velocities are added. Formalizing the "Thomas effect-MGTI analogy" requires two steps. First, we establish a partial mathematical link between the Thomas effect and the phase response of the GTR. We then complete it by converting the phase response of the GTR to intensity using the unbalanced MGTI. Evaluating the analogue via simulation shows that the extracted phase response from MGTI captures the essential characteristics of the Thomas effect, confirming its viability as an optical analogue.

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Issue

2019: Proceedings of the 37th Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2019-2C-05

Section

Ultrafast Optics, Photonics, and Terahertz Physics

Published

2019-05-09

How to Cite

[1]

ART Chua, BB Dingel, A Buenaventura, and KO Akamatsu, Thin-film based optical analogue of a phenomenon in special relativity known as the Thomas Effect, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 37, SPP-2019-2C-05 (2019). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2019-2C-05.