Hai-Xiao Wang — Page 3

arXiv2016

Visualization of unidirectional optical waveguide using topological photonic crystals made of dielectric material

The introduction of topology unravels a new chapter of physics. Topological systems provide unique edge/interfacial quantum states which are expected to contribute to the development of novel spintronics and open the door to robust quantum computation. Optical systems can also benefit from topology. Engineering locally in real space a honeycomb photonic crystal with double Dirac cone in its photonic dispersion, topology transition in photonic band structure is induced and a pseudospin unidirectional optical channel is created and demonstrated by the backscattering immune electromagnetic transportation. The topological photonic crystal made of dielectric material can pave the road towards steering light propagations and contribute to novel communication technology.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

3D $Z_2$ Topological Nodes in Nonsymmorphic Photonic Crystals: Ultrastrong Coupling and Anomalous Refraction

We propose to simulate 3D Dirac points and line-nodes with nontrivial $Z_2$ topology in nonsymmorphic all-dielectric photonic-crystals with space-time reversal symmetry, which can be realized at infrared and microwave frequencies. Double degeneracy of all Bloch states in high symmetry planes is achieved via nonsymmorphic screw symmetries despite the fundamental obstacle of no Kramers degeneracy in photonic crystals. Two orthogonal screw axes lead to 3D $Z_2$ Dirac points on high symmetry Brillouin zone boundary lines. On the other hand, $Z_2$ line-nodes emerge as protected twofold degeneracy of Bloch bands with opposite mirror parities on the $k_z=0$ plane. The lowest frequency line-node is deterministic because of a degenerate-partner switching mechanism guaranteed by the fundamental properties of Maxwell equations and the nonsymmorphic screw symmetry. A pair of Fermi arcs with opposite chirality due to $Z_2$ topological Dirac points emerge below the light-line on (100) and (010) photonic-crystal-air interfaces. These robust surface states offer an unique opportunity to realize an "open cavity" with strong interaction between quantum emitters and engineered vacuum with nontrivial Berry phases --- an important step toward topological states of strongly interacting bosons. Realistic calculation for resonant coupling between cavity-photons and phonons in boron nitride thin film yields ultrastrong coupling with vacuum Rabi splitting reaching to $23\%$ of photon frequency. We also show that type-II Dirac cones have anomalous valley selective refraction: birefringence with both positive and negative refractions for one valley, while no refraction for the other.

physics.optics↗