Mimicking an expanding universe by optical interference in a helicoid waveguide

According to modern cosmology, expansion of the universe is due to the metric changing of spacetime itself. Here, we propose to mimic an expanding universe by utilizing optical interference and helicoid waveguides. The evolution of interference pattern in the helicoid waveguide is investigated theoretically and experimentally. For precise measurements, we design an air helicoid waveguide which allows us to investigate the wave front of laser beams from the waveguide. Redshift of a Gaussian wave packet in the expanding universe is demonstrated with high precision, showing that the helicoid waveguide acts as a parabolic gradient index lens exactly. The proposed waveguide structure can be used as an efficient waveguide adapter. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement