arXiv subjects

Nai H. Kwong

Publications and source records attributed to Nai H. Kwong.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Skyrmion topology of scalar waves in real and momentum space

Generalizations of magnetic skyrmions to the context of other areas of physics, such as plasmonics, optics (including microcavity polaritons) and even water waves have become an important research topic. However, the generalization of the skyrmion number in such systems is still the subject of active research. While magnetic skyrmions textures are inherently formed by vectors (magnetic spin vectors), recent developments in other areas of physics have generalized the concept of skyrmions and skyrmionic patterns to the case in which scalar fields are used to define 3-component pseudo-spin vectors. This gives rise to a wide variety of skyrmion-like textures, depending on the detailed functional forms of the scalar fields. For example, steady-state outgoing waves in driven-dissipative polariton systems fail to have a well-defined global skyrmion number in real (configuration) space but can have one in momentum space. We classify the skyrmion integral for various scalar fields with different asymptotic behaviors in real space as well as momentum space, and in both cases give conditions for the skyrmion number not to exist, or be integer, half-integer or non-integer. Examples of physical systems to which our analysis can be applied include polariton condensates, water waves and gain-guided lasers.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Skyrmions in scalar fields of non-Hermitian optical microcavities: spontaneous formation, nonlinear control, and optical forces

Topological textures of light offer powerful routes for structuring optical fields, controlling wave transport, and manipulating matter. Skyrmions, long studied as topological solitons in vector fields, have recently been extended to scalar wave systems, including acoustics, hydrodynamics, and plasmonics. However, their realization in two-dimensional scalar wave propagation with nonlinearities and in quantum fluids remains uncharted. Here, we establish such a Skyrmion framework for scalar fields in optical microcavities. With focus on exciton-polaritons, we show that nonresonant excitation without imposed phase can spontaneously generate isolated Skyrmions and self-organized Skyrmion lattices in a polariton condensate. We trace this mechanism to gain- and loss-induced phase curvature together with outward polariton flow. We further demonstrate that polariton nonlinearities provide all-optical control of these textures, enabling switching of the Skyrmion number and reconfiguration of Skyrmion moiré lattices through resonant and nonresonant excitation schemes. These results establish nonlinear non-Hermitian resonators as a versatile platform for the spontaneous generation and active control of scalar topological light fields.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Exceptional rings in nonlinear non-Hermitian planar optical microcavities: implementation, signal enhancement, and topology

Non-Hermitian systems hosting exceptional points (EPs) exhibit signal enhancement and unconventional mode dynamics. Going beyond isolated EPs, here we report on the existence of exceptional rings (ERs) in planar optical resonators with specific form of circular dichroism and TE-TM splitting. Such exceptional rings possess intriguing topologies as discussed earlier for condensed matter systems, but they remain virtually unexplored in presence of nonlinearity, for which our photonic platform is ideal. We find that when Kerr-type nonlinearity (or saturable gain) is introduced, the linear ER splits into two concentric ERs, with the larger-radius ring being a ring of third-order EPs. Transitioning from linear to nonlinear regime, we present a rigorous analysis of (spectral and band) topologies and report enhanced and adjustable perturbation response in the nonlinear regime. Whereas certain features are specific to our system, the results on non-Hermitian topologies and nonlinearity-enhanced perturbation response are generic and equally relevant to a broad class of other nonlinear non-Hermitian systems, providing a universal framework for engineering ERs and EPs in nonlinear non-Hermitian systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Steady-state nonlinear optical response of excitons in monolayer MoSe$_2$

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors such as MoSe$_2$ host strongly bound excitons which are known to exhibit a strong resonant third-order nonlinear response. Although there have been numerous studies of the ultrafast nonlinear response of monolayer TMDs, a study of the steady-state nonlinear response is lacking. We report a comprehensive study of the steady-state two-color nonlinear response of excitons in hBN-encapsulated monolayer MoSe$_2$ at 7 K. We observe differential transmission (DT) signals associated with the neutral and charged exciton species, which is strongly dependent on the polarization of the pump and probe. Our results are compared to a theoretical model based on a T-matrix formulation for exciton-exciton, exciton-trion, and trion-trion correlations. The parameters are chosen such that the theory accurately reproduces the experimental DT spectrum, which is found to be dominated by two-exciton correlations without strong biexciton binding, exciton-trion attractive interactions, and strong spin mixing through incoherent relaxation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Polariton Laser in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer Regime

Microcavity exciton polariton systems can have a wide range of macroscopic quantum effects that may be turned into better photonic technologies. Polariton Bose-Einstein condensation and photon lasing have been widely accepted in the limits of low and high carrier densities, but identification of the expected Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state at intermediate densities remains elusive, as the optical-gain mechanism cannot be directly inferred from existing experiments. Here, using a microcavity with strong polarization selectivity, we gain direct experimental access to the reservoir absorption in the presence of polariton condensation and lasing, which reveals a fermionic gain mechanism underlying the polariton laser. A microscopic many-particle theory shows that this polariton lasing state is consistent with an open-dissipative-pumped system analog of a polaritonic BCS state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

All-optical beam steering using the polariton lighthouse effect

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that a specifically designed microcavity driven in the optical parametric oscillation regime exhibits lighthouse-like emission, i.e., an emission focused around a single direction. Remarkably, the emission direction of this micro-lighthouse is continuously controlled by the linear polarization of the incident laser, and angular beam steering over \unit{360}{\degree} is demonstrated. Theoretically, this unprecedented effect arises from the interplay between the nonlinear optical response of microcavity exciton-polaritons, the difference in the subcavities forming the microcavity, and the rotational invariance of the device.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Optical characterization of electron-phonon interactions at the saddle point in graphene

The role of electron-phonon interactions is experimentally and theoretically investigated near the saddle point absorption peak of graphene. The differential optical transmission spectra of multiple, non-interacting layers of graphene reveals the dominant role played by electron-acoustic phonon coupling in bandstructure renormalization. Using a Born approximation for electron-phonon coupling and experimental estimates of the dynamic phonon lattice temperature, we deduce the effective acoustic deformation potential to be $D^{\rm ac}_{\rm eff} \simeq 5$eV. This value is in accord with recent theoretical predictions but differs substantially from those obtained using electrical transport measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗