Observation of Temporal Reflections and Broadband Frequency Translations at Photonic Time-Interfaces

Abstract: Time-reflection is a uniform inversion of the temporal evolution of a signal, which arises when an abrupt change in the properties of the host material occurs uniformly in space. At such a time-interface, a portion of the input signal is time-reversed, and its frequency spectrum is homogeneously translated while its momentum is conserved, forming the temporal counterpart of a spatial interface. Combinations of time-interfaces, forming time-metamaterials and Floquet matter, exploit the interference of multiple time-reflections for extreme wave manipulation, leveraging time as a new degree of freedom. Here, we report the observation of photonic time-reflection and associated broadband frequency translation in a switched transmission-line metamaterial whose effective capacitance is homogeneously and abruptly changed via a synchronized array of switches. A pair of temporal interfaces are combined to demonstrate time-reflection-induced wave interference, realizing the temporal counterpart of a Fabry-Perot cavity. Our results establish the foundational building blocks to realize time-metamaterials and Floquet photonic crystals, with opportunities for extreme photon manipulation in space and time.