arXiv subjects

Dongliang Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Dongliang Gao.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Non-Hermitian Light Beams

Non-Hermitian systems provide remarkable features actively studied in modern photonics. Non-Hermiticity is often related to the properties of open structures and devices, which involve lossy and gain channels. Here, we reveal that electromagnetic fields themselves can be designed in a non-Hermitian way, proposing an additional degree of freedom in non-Hermitian physics. Within classical electromagnetic wave theory, we show that the non-Hermitian behaviors may stem not only from the dispersive properties of the waves, but also from the peculiarities of the light spatial spectrum and local structure of the fields. For the nondiffracting light beams, we identify exceptional points detaching symmetric and asymmetric non-Hermitian phases related to the shape of the beam's intensity profile, the non-Hermiticity being well recognized only for non-paraxial beams. In the local structure of the electromagnetic fields and Poynting vector, we determine exceptional lines differentiating non-Hermitian phases stemming from the behavior of streamlines. We believe that the concept of non-Hermitian light beams will enrich our knowledge of the light-matter interaction.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

General and concise operator approach to the dyadic Green's function of layered media

Dyadic Green's function is an important tool of computational photonics, giving deeper insights into light-matter interaction. We present an operator approach to the derivation of the dyadic Green's function of a generic anisotropic planarly-layered medium for both electric and magnetic fields. The resulting Green's function is expressed through the evolution operators (a kind of transfer matrices) of the comprising layers and the surface impedance tensors, the singular term being naturally separated from other terms. The operator approach to the Green's function simplifies both the conceptual understanding of the problem and the subsequent practical applications, some of which are demonstrated here. The proposed approach can be easily generalized to the case of spherical and cylindrical layers, as well as bi-anisotropic layered media. The obtained results can be applied in nanophotonics engineering problems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

A time grating approach to ultrahigh-Q guided mode resonance

Guided mode resonance (GMR), the resonant coupling of free-space light into leaky waveguide modes, is traditionally achieved with periodic patterned structures. However, this approach makes its key properties such as quality factor (Q-factor) fabrication-dependent and non-tunable. Here, we introduce a time grating platform, i.e., a homogeneous waveguide whose refractive index is modulated periodically in time, that allows tunable GMRs through temporal modulation engineering rather than spatial structural redesign. We show that the Q-factors of these GMRs diverge as the modulation depth vanishes. Furthermore, unconstrained by energy conservation, the resonances exhibit near-unity reflection for fundamental harmonics and values exceeding 40 for first-order harmonics. Our findings not only apply to yield a giant Goos-Hänchen shift over 103 times wavelength without sacrificing the reflection magnitude, but also open new avenues for related phenomena such as bound states in the continuum, unidirectional GMRs and beyond.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Direct observation of photonic spin Hall effect in Mie scattering

The photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE), a hallmark of spin-orbit interaction of light, has long been considered a promising route toward spin-controlled functionalities in nanophotonics. Yet, its practical realization has been severely limited by the inherently weak spin-orbit coupling in typical systems, resulting in vanishingly small transverse shifts and extremely low scattering efficiency. This fundamental trade-off has rendered the PSHE observable only through complex weak measurement protocols and signal amplification-approaches that come at the cost of further intensity loss, particularly in nanoscale systems. In this work, we overcome this longstanding challenge by introducing a novel mechanism based on symmetry breaking and mode coupling in a standalone scatterer, which unlocks a regime of Friedrich-Wintgen superscattering with strong near-field spin-orbit interaction. This allows for simultaneous enhancement of both the photonic spin Hall shift and the far-field scattering intensity-boosting the latter by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to conventional dipolar particles. Through tailored multipolar interference, the PSHE is made accessible at experimentally convenient angles, enabling post selection-free detection. We report the first direct experimental observation of the PSHE from a single superscattering particle, achieved in the microwave regime via polarization-resolved far-field measurements. Our findings not only validate a new physical pathway for enhancing spin-dependent light-matter interactions, but also establish a robust, scalable platform for spin-based photonic technologies. This breakthrough opens new avenues in precision optical metrology, advanced imaging, LIDAR systems, and integrated photonic circuitry, bridging a critical gap between fundamental spin optics and real-world applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Loss-free enhancement of photonic spin Hall shift by electromagnetically induced transparency

The photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE), a result of spin-orbit interaction, has attracted significant interest because of its fundamental importance and potential applications. Optical losses are ubiquitous, which inherently suppress the photonic spin Hall shift (PSHS). In this work, we consider an atomic medium that exhibits both absorption and transparency to investigate and mitigate the effects of loss on PSHS. We demonstrate that laser-induced coherence in an atomic medium, leading to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) at resonance, counteracts the detrimental effects of losses on the PSHS. Upon EIT in a coherent medium enclosed within dielectric slabs, the reflectivity of the incident polarized state is reduced near Brewster's angle to enhance PSHS. Moreover, the tunable refractive index of the atomic medium enables the manipulation of PSHS without structural modifications with a tiny loss. Our proposed loss-free approach to PSHS may enable advanced optical sensing and other spin-based applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Generalized coherent wave control at dynamic interfaces

Coherent wave control is of key importance across a broad range of fields such as electromagnetics, photonics, and acoustics. It enables us to amplify or suppress the outgoing waves via engineering amplitudes and phases of multiple incidences. However, within a purely spatially (temporally) engineered medium, coherent wave control requires the frequency of the associated incidences to be identical (opposite). In this work, we break this conventional constraint by generalizing coherent wave control into a spatiotemporally engineered medium, i.e., the system featuring a dynamic interface. Owing to the broken translational symmetry in space and time, both the subluminal and superluminal interfaces allow interference between scattered waves regardless of their different frequencies and wavevectors. Hence, one can flexibly eliminate the backward- or forward-propagating waves scattered from the dynamic interfaces by controlling the incident amplitudes and phases. Our work not only presents a generalized way for reshaping arbitrary waveforms but also provides a promising paradigm to generate ultrafast pulses using low-frequency signals. We have also implemented suppression of forward-propagating waves in microstrip transmission lines with fast photodiode switches.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Invisible sensor: Simultaneous sensing and camouflaging in multiphysical fields

To manipulate various types of physical signals in one single device has long captivated the attention of scientists and engineers. This however is very challenging, if not impossible, even for emerging metamaterials. Up to date, many artificial materials have been proposed, theoretically and (or) experimentally, for manipulating various waves/signals on a one-function-one-device basis. In this work, for the very first time, we employ undecorated natural materials to experimentally demonstrate a simultaneous camouflage for thermal current and electric dc current on the same device. It demonstrates how ingenuity can overcome the limitations of natural material systems without the need for complex decoration to impart inhomogeneous and (or) anisotropic properties, which was previously considered impossible to accomplish except by using metamaterials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

A unified theory correcting Einstein-Laub electrodynamics solves dilemmas in the photon momenta and electromagnetic stress tensors

To unify and clarify the persistently debated electromagnetic stress tensors (ST) and photon momenta, we establish a theory inspired by the Einstein-Laub formalism inside an arbitrary macroscopic object immersed in any complex medium. Our generalized Einstein-Laub force and ST yield the total force experienced by any generic macroscopic object due to the internal field interacting with its atoms, charges and molecules. Appropriate scenarios are established for the conservation of a newly proposed momentum that we call non-mechanical generalized Einstein-Laub momentum, along with the kinetic and canonical momenta of photons. Our theory remains valid even in a generally heterogeneous or bounded embedding background medium without resorting to hidden momenta, and unambiguously identifies the existence domain, or validity domain, of the STs and photon momenta proposed to date. This existence domain is the region either outside a macroscopic scatterer with only exterior fields, or at its interior with only inside fields. The appropriate identification of such existence domain constitutes the basis of our unified theory. Finally, a thought experiment is proposed, which shows that the appropriate force and the photon momentum in the embedding medium can also be properly identified if the background is comparatively larger than the embedded scatterer. It also explains the fully different roles of the Abraham and Minkowski photon momenta in the embedding medium. Most importantly, our unified theory reveals that a unique formulation of the momentum conservation law is unfeasible, though a generalized expression of the ST and momentum density is achievable in terms of new concepts that we introduce, namely, the effective polarization and effective magnetization.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Manipulating Steady Heat Conduction by Sensu-shaped Thermal Metamaterials

The ability to design the control of heat flow has innumerable benefits in the design of electronic systems such as thermoelectric energy harvesters, solid-state lighting, and thermal imagers, where the thermal design plays a key role in performance and device reliability. However, to realize one advanced control function of thermal flux, one needs to design one sophisticated, multilayered and inhomogeneous thermal structure with different composition/shape at different regions of one device. In this work, we employ one identical sensu-unit with facile natural composition to experimentally realize a new class of thermal metamaterials for controlling thermal conduction (e.g., thermal concentrator, focusing/resolving, uniform heating), only resorting to positioning and locating the same unit element of sensu-shape structure. The thermal metamaterial unit and the proper arrangement of multiple identical units are capable of transferring, redistributing and managing thermal energy in a versatile fashion. It is also shown that our sensu-shape unit elements can be used in manipulating dc currents without any change in the layout for the thermal counterpart. The proposed scheme can also be applied to control dc electric currents and dc magnetic fields that governed by Laplace equation. These could markedly enhance the capabilities in thermal sensing, thermal imaging, thermal-energy storage, thermal packaging, thermal therapy, and more domains beyond.

physics.optics↗