A geometric description of nonreciprocity in coupled two-mode systems

Abstract

We explore the concept of nonreciprocity in coupled two-mode systems using a geometric mapping to the Poincaré sphere. From this perspective, we recast the requirements for nonreciprocity in terms of rotation and inversion symmetry arguments for the vector describing the two-mode state. We provide a few examples (the microwave circulator, parametric up/down converter, and traveling wave frequency converter) to demonstrate how this general geometric picture can provide insight into specific physical systems.

Keywords

• microwave devices
• Josephson devices
• optical devices
• 84.40.Dc
• 85.25.Cp
• 42.79.-e