Topological suppression of optical tunneling in a twisted annular fiber

Abstract
A classical wave-optics analog of topological (Aharonov-Bohm) suppression of tunneling in a double-well potential on a ring threaded by a magnetic flux is proposed. The optical system consists of a uniformly twisted optical fiber with a structured annular core, in which the fiber twist mimics the role of the magnetic flux in the corresponding quantum-mechanical problem. Light waves trapped in the annular core of the fiber experience an additional topological (Aharonov-Bohm) phase, which may lead to the destruction of optical tunneling at certain values of the twist rate.