arXiv subjects

Hongsheng Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Hongsheng Chen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Polarization-Orthogonal Nondegenerate Plasmonic Higher-Order Topological States

Photonic topological states, providing light-manipulation approaches in robust manners, have attracted intense attention. Connecting photonic topological states with far-field degrees of freedom(DoFs) has given rise to fruitful phenomena. Recently emerged higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs), hosting boundary states two or more dimensions lower than those of bulk, offer new paradigms to localize/transport light topologically in extended dimensionalities. However, photonic HOTIs have not been related to DoFs of radiation fields yet. Here, we report the observation of polarization-orthogonal second-order topological corner states at different frequencies on a designer-plasmonic Kagome metasurface in the far field.Such phenomenon stands on two mechanisms, i.e., projecting the far-field polarizations to the intrinsic parity DoFs of lattice modes and the parity splitting of the plasmonic corner states in spectra. We theoretically and numerically show that the parity splitting originates from the underlying inter-orbital coupling. Both near-field and far-field experiments verify the polarization-orthogonal nondegeneratesecond-order topological corner states. These results promise applications in robust optical single photon emitters and multiplexed photonic devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Brillouin Klein space and half-turn space in three-dimensional acoustic crystals

The Bloch band theory and Brillouin zone (BZ) that characterize wave behaviors in periodic mediums are two cornerstones of contemporary physics ranging from condensed matter to topological physics. Recent theoretical breakthrough revealed that, under the projective symmetry algebra enforced by artificial gauge fields, the usual two-dimensional (2D) BZ (orientable Brillouin two-torus) can be fundamentally modified to a non-orientable Brillouin Klein bottle with radically distinct topology and novel topological phases. However, the physical consequence of artificial gauge fields on the more general three-dimensional (3D) BZ (orientable Brillouin three-torus) was so far missing. Here, we report the first theoretical discovery and experimental observation of non-orientable Brillouin Klein space and orientable Brillouin half-turn space in a 3D acoustic crystal with artificial gauge fields. We experimentally identify peculiar 3D momentum-space non-symmorphic screw rotation and glide reflection symmetries in the measured band structures. Moreover, we demonstrate a novel 3D Klein bottle insulator featuring a nonzero Z_2 topological invariant and self-collimated topological surface states at two opposite surfaces related by a nonlocal twist, radically distinct from all previous topological insulators. Our discovery not only fundamentally modifies the 3D Bloch band theory and 3D BZ, but also opens the door towards a wealth of previously overlooked momentum-space topologies and unexplored topological physics with gauge symmetry beyond the existing paradigms.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2023

Observation of Multiple Topological Corner States in Thermal Diffusion

Higher-dimensional topological meta-materials have more flexible than one-dimensional topological materials, which are more convenient to apply and solve practical problems. However, in diffusion systems, higher-dimensional topological states have not been well studied. In this work, we experimentally realized the 2D topological structure based on a kagome lattice of thermal metamaterial. Due to the anti-Hermitian properties of the diffusion Hamiltonian, it has purely imaginary eigenvalues corresponding to the decay rate. By theoretical analysis and directly observing the decay rate of temperature through experiments, we present the various corner states in 2D topological diffusive system. Our work constitutes the first realization of multiple corner states with high decay rates in a pure diffusion system, which provides a new idea for the design of topological protected thermal metamaterial in the future.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Bulk-plasmon-mediated free-electron radiation beyond the conventional formation time

Free-electron radiation is a fundamental photon emission process that is induced by fast-moving electrons interacting with optical media. Historically, it has been understood that, just like any other photon emission process, free-electron radiation must be constrained within a finite time interval known as the "formation time", whose concept is applicable to both Cherenkov radiation and transition radiation, the two basic mechanisms describing radiation from a bulk medium and from an interface, respectively. Here we reveal an alternative mechanism of free-electron radiation far beyond the previously defined formation time. It occurs when a fast electron crosses the interface between vacuum and a plasmonic medium supporting bulk plasmons. While emitted continuously from the crossing point on the interface - thus consistent with the features of transition radiation - the extra radiation beyond the conventional formation time is supported by a long tail of bulk plasmons following the electron's trajectory deep into the plasmonic medium. Such a plasmonic tail mixes surface and bulk effects, and provides a sustained channel for electron-interface interaction. These results also settle the historical debate in Ferrell radiation, regarding whether it is a surface or bulk effect, from transition radiation or plasmonic oscillation.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2023

Dipole-matter interactions governed by the asymmetry of Maxwell equations

Directionally molding the near-field and far-field radiation lies at the heart of nanophotonics and is crucial for applications such as on-chip information processing and chiral quantum networks. The most fundamental model for radiating structures is a dipolar source located inside a homogeneous matter. However, the influence of matter on the directionality of dipolar radiation is oftentimes overlooked, especially for the near-field radiation. We show that the dipole-matter interaction is intrinsically asymmetric and does not fulfill the duality principle, originating from the inherent asymmetry of Maxwell equations, i.e., electric charge and current are ubiquitous but their magnetic counterparts are non-existent to elusive. Moreover, we find that the asymmetric dipole-matter interaction could offer an enticing route to reshape the directionality of not only the near-field radiation but also the far-field radiation. As an example, both the near-field and far-field radiation directionality of Huygens dipole (located close to a dielectric-metal interface) would be reversed, if the dipolar position is changed from the dielectric region to the metal region.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Free-electron Brewster radiation

Free-electron radiation offers an enticing route to create light emission at arbitrary spectral regime. However, this type of light emission is generally weak, which is intrinsically limited by the weak particle-matter interaction and unavoidably impedes the development of many promising applications, such as the miniaturization of free-electron radiation sources and high-energy particle detectors. Here we reveal a mechanism to enhance the particle-matter interaction by exploiting the pseudo-Brewster effect of gain materials - presenting an enhancement of at least four orders of magnitude for the light emission. This mechanism is enabled by the emergence of an unprecedented phase diagram that maps all phenomena of free-electron radiation into three distinct phases in a gain-thickness parameter space, namely the conventional, intermediate, and Brewster phases, when an electron penetrates a dielectric slab with a modest gain and a finite thickness. Essentially, our revealed mechanism corresponds to the free-electron radiation in the Brewster phase, which also uniquely features ultrahigh directionality, always at the Brewster angle, regardless of the electron velocity. Counterintuitively, we find that the intensity of this free-electron Brewster radiation is insensitive to the Fabry-Perot resonance condition and thus the variation of slab thickness, and moreover, a weaker gain could lead to a stronger enhancement for the light emission. The scheme of free-electron Brewster radiation, especially along with its compatibility with low-energy electrons, may enable the development of high-directionality high-intensity light sources at any frequency.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

An Electromagnetic-Information-Theory Based Model for Efficient Characterization of MIMO Systems in Complex Space

It is the pursuit of a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system to approach and even break the limit of channel capacity. However, it is always a big challenge to efficiently characterize the MIMO systems in complex space and get better propagation performance than the conventional MIMO systems considering only free space, which is important for guiding the power and phase allocation of antenna units. In this manuscript, an Electromagnetic-Information-Theory (EMIT) based model is developed for efficient characterization of MIMO systems in complex space. The group-T-matrix-based multiple scattering fast algorithm, the mode-decomposition-based characterization method, and their joint theoretical framework in complex space are discussed. Firstly, key informatics parameters in free electromagnetic space based on a dyadic Green's function are derived. Next, a novel group-T-matrix-based multiple scattering fast algorithm is developed to describe a representative inhomogeneous electromagnetic space. All the analytical results are validated by simulations. In addition, the complete form of the EMIT-based model is proposed to derive the informatics parameters frequently used in electromagnetic propagation, through integrating the mode analysis method with the dyadic Green's function matrix. Finally, as a proof-or-concept, microwave anechoic chamber measurements of a cylindrical array is performed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the EMIT-based model. Meanwhile, a case of image transmission with limited power is presented to illustrate how to use this EMIT-based model to guide the power and phase allocation of antenna units for real MIMO applications.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2023

Recent advances of transition radiation: fundamentals and applications

Transition radiation is a fundamental process of light emission and occurs whenever a charged particle moves across an inhomogeneous region. One feature of transition radiation is that it can create light emission at arbitrary frequency under any particle velocity. Therefore, transition radiation is of significant importance to both fundamental science and practical applications. In this paper, we provide a brief historical review of transition radiation and its recent development. Moreover, we pay special attention to four typical applications of transition radiation, namely the detection of high-energy particles, coherent radiation sources, beam diagnosis, and excitation of surface waves. Finally, we give an outlook for the research tendency of transition radiation, especially its flexible manipulation by exploiting artificially-engineered materials and nanostructures, such as gain materials, metamaterials, spatial-temporal materials, meta-boundaries, and layered structures with a periodic or non-periodic stacking.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Low-velocity-favored transition radiation

When a charged particle penetrates through an optical interface, photon emissions emerge - a phenomenon known as transition radiation. Being paramount to fundamental physics, transition radiation has enabled many applications from high-energy particle identification to novel light sources. A rule of thumb in transition radiation is that the radiation intensity generally decreases with the particle velocity v; as a result, low-energy particles are not favored in practice. Here we find that there exist situations where transition radiation from particles with extremely low velocities (e.g. v/c<0.001) exhibits comparable intensity as that from high-energy particles (e.g. v/c=0.999), where c is light speed in free space. The comparable radiation intensity implies an extremely high photon extraction efficiency from low-energy particles, up to eight orders of magnitude larger than that from high-energy particles. This exotic phenomenon of low-velocity-favored transition radiation originates from the excitation of Ferrell-Berreman modes in epsilon-near-zero materials. Our findings may provide a promising route towards the design of integrated light sources based on low-energy electrons and specialized detectors for beyond-standard-model particles.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

A perspective on meta-boundaries

The judicious design of electromagnetic boundary provides a crucial route to control light-matter interactions, and it is thus fundamental to basic science and practical applications. General design approaches rely on the manipulation of bulk properties of superstrate or substrate and on the modification of boundary geometries. Due to the recent advent of metasurfaces and low-dimensional materials, the boundary can be flexibly featured with a surface conductivity, which can be rather complex but provide an extra degree of freedom to regulate the propagation of light. In this perspective, we denote the boundary with a non-zero surface conductivity as the meta-boundary. The meta-boundaries are categorized into four types, namely isotropic, anisotropic, biisotropic and bianisotropic meta-boundaries, according to the electromagnetic boundary conditions. Accordingly, the latest development for these four kinds of meta-boundaries are reviewed. Finally, an outlook on the research tendency of meta-boundaries is provided, particularly on the manipulation of light-matter interactions by simultaneously exploiting meta-boundaries and metamaterials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Demonstration of broadband topological slow light

Slow-light devices are able to significantly enhance light-matter interaction due to the reduced group velocity of light, but a very low group velocity is usually achieved in a narrow bandwidth, accompanied by extreme sensitivity to imperfections that causes increased disorder-induced attenuation. Recent theories have suggested an ideal solution to this problem - unidirectional chiral photonic states, previously discovered in structures known as photonic topological insulators, not only resist backscattering from imperfections but can also be slowed down in the entire topological bandgap with multiple windings in the Brillouin zone. Here, we report on the experimental demonstration of broadband topological slow light in a photonic topological insulator. When coupled with periodic resonators that form flat bands, the chiral photonic states can wind many times around the Brillouin zone, achieving an ultra-low group velocity in the entire topological bandgap. This demonstration extends the scope of topological photonics into slow light engineering and opens a unique avenue in the dispersion manipulation of chiral photonic states.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2022

Spinful topological phases in acoustic crystals with projective PT symmetry

For the classification of topological phases of matter, an important consideration is whether a system is spinless or spinful, as these two classes have distinct symmetry algebra that gives rise to fundamentally different topological phases. However, only recently has it been realized theoretically that in the presence of gauge symmetry, the algebraic structure of symmetries can be projectively represented, which possibly enables the switch between spinless and spinful topological phases. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of this idea by realizing spinful topological phases in "spinless" acoustic crystals with projective space-time inversion symmetry. In particular, we realize a DIII-class one-dimensional topologically gapped phase characterized by a 2Z winding number, which features Kramers degenerate bands and Kramers pair of topological boundary modes. Our work thus overcomes a fundamental constraint on topological phases by spin classes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Wide-angle giant photonic spin Hall effect

Photonic spin Hall effect is a manifestation of spin-orbit interaction of light and can be measured by a transverse shift λof photons with opposite spins. The precise measurement of transverse shifts can enable many spin-related applications, such as precise metrology and optical sensing. However, this transverse shift is generally small (i.e. δ/λ<{10}^{-1}, λis the wavelength), which impedes its precise measurement. To-date proposals to generate giant spin Hall effect (namely with δ/λ>{10}^{2}) have severe limitations, particularly its occurrence only over a narrow angular cone (with a width of Δθ<{1}^{\circ}). Here we propose a universal scheme to realize the wide-angle giant photonic spin Hall effect with Δθ>{70}^{\circ} by exploiting the interface between free space and uniaxial epsilon-near-zero media. The underlying mechanism is ascribed to the almost-perfect polarization splitting between s and p polarized waves at the designed interface. Remarkably, this almost-perfect polarization splitting does not resort to the interference effect and is insensitive to the incident angle, which then gives rise to the wide-angle giant photonic spin Hall effect.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Discovery of a maximally charged Weyl point

The hypothetical Weyl particles in high-energy physics have been discovered in three-dimensional crystals as collective quasiparticle excitations near two-fold degenerate Weyl points. Such momentum-space Weyl particles carry quantized chiral charges, which can be measured by counting the number of Fermi arcs emanating from the corresponding Weyl points. It is known that merging unit-charged Weyl particles can create new ones with more charges. However, only very recently has it been realised that there is an upper limit - the maximal charge number that a two-fold Weyl point can host is four - achievable only in crystals without spin-orbit coupling. Here, we report the experimental realisation of such a maximally charged Weyl point in a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The four charges support quadruple-helicoid Fermi arcs, forming an unprecedented topology of two non-contractible loops in the surface Brillouin zone. The helicoid Fermi arcs also exhibit the long-pursued type-II van Hove singularities that can reside at arbitrary momenta. This discovery reveals a type of maximally charged Weyl particles beyond conventional topological particles in crystals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Observation of 2D Cherenkov radiation

For over 80 years of research, the conventional description of free-electron radiation phenomena, such as Cherenkov radiation, has remained unchanged: classical three-dimensional electromagnetic waves. Interestingly, in reduced dimensionality, the properties of free-electron radiation are predicted to fundamentally change. Here, we present the first observation of Cherenkov surface waves, wherein free electrons emit narrow-bandwidth photonic quasiparticles propagating in two-dimensions. The low dimensionality and narrow bandwidth of the effect enable to identify quantized emission events through electron energy loss spectroscopy. Our results support the recent theoretical prediction that free electrons do not always emit classical light and can instead become entangled with the photons they emit. The two-dimensional Cherenkov interaction achieves quantum coupling strengths over two orders of magnitude larger than ever reported, reaching the single-electron-single-photon interaction regime for the first time with free electrons. Our findings pave the way to previously unexplored phenomena in free-electron quantum optics, facilitating bright, free-electron-based quantum emitters of heralded Fock states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Generation of Accelerating Waves in Smith-Purcell Radiation

Metasurface has recently emerged as a powerful platform to engineer wave packets of free electron radiation at the mesoscale. Here, we propose that accelerating waves can be generated when moving electrons interact with an array of bianisotropic meta-atoms. By changing the intrinsic coupling strength, we show full amplitude coverage and 0-to-π phase switching of Smith-Purcell radiation from bianistropic meta-atoms. This unusual property leads to the creation of Airy beams that shifts along a parabolic trajectory during propagation. Experimental implementation displays that evanescent fields bounded at slotted waveguides can be coupled into accelerating waves via Smith-Purcell radiation from a designer bianisotropic metasuface. Our results offer an alternative route towards free electron lasers with diffraction-free, self-accelerating, and self-healing beam properties.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

Observation of topologically enabled complete polarization conversion

Exploiting topological ideas has been a major theme in modern photonics, which provides unprecedented opportunities to design photonic devices with robustness against defects and flaws. While most previous works in topological photonics have focused on band theory, recent theoretical advances extend the topological concepts to the analysis of scattering matrices and suggest a topological route to complete polarization conversion (CPC), a unique photonic phenomenon without an electronic counterpart. Here, we report on the experimental observation of the topological effect in reflection matrices of a photonic crystal slab, enabling CPC between two linear polarizations over a wide range of frequencies. Using angle-resolved reflection measurements, we observe CPC occurring at vortex singularities of reflection coefficients in momentum space, verifying the topological nature of CPC. In addition, the topological effect also guarantees the spin-preserved reflection of a circularly polarized wave. Remarkably, we experimentally establish a connection between two seemingly unrelated topological phenomena--CPC and bound states in the continuum (BICs): BICs lie on the critical coupling curves that define the condition for CPC. Our work paves the way to exploring the topological properties in scattering matrices for controlling light polarization and spin and creating robust photonic devices.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2021

A perspective of twisted photonic structures

Moire superlattices-twisted van der Waals (vdW) structures with small angles-are attracting increasing attention in condensed matter physics, due to important phenomena revealed therein, including unconventional superconductivity, correlated insulating states, and ferromagnetism. Moire superlattices are typically comprised of atomic layers of vdW materials where the exotic physics arises from the quantum electronic coupling between adjacent atomic layers. Recently, moire electronics has motivated their photonic counterparts. In addition to vdW materials, twisted photonic systems can also be comprised of metamaterials, metasurfaces, and photonic crystals, mediated by interlayer electromagnetic coupling instead. The interplay between short-ranged interlayer quantum and long-ranged electromagnetic coupling in twisted structures are expected to yield rich phenomena in nano-optics. This perspective reviews recent progress in twisted structures for nanophotonics and outlooks emerging topics, opportunities, fundamental challenges, and potential applications.

physics.optics↗