arXiv subjects

Xianfeng Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Xianfeng Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Topology of Photonic Time Crystals under Complex Refractive Index Modulation

Photonic time crystals, constructed by periodic modulation of electromagnetic parameters in time, hold unique topological properties. Here, we explore permittivity and conductivity co-modulated PTCs (PCM PTCs) by dynamically tuning permittivity and conductivity simultaneously of the spatially-uniform materials, and discover their distinctive non-Hermitian effects. We find that such PCM PTCs hold a global shift of the Floquet spectrum along the imaginary quasifrequency axis, which controls field amplification and decay in both momentum bands and band gaps. By further considering the temporal interface consisting of two different PCM PTCs, we can unveil the relationship between the emergence of topological edge states and momentum band inversion by analyzing the eigenstates at exceptional points. Moreover, the characteristic of the topology of PCM PTCs can also be captured from the complex Dirac mass. Our work studies the topology of PTCs in complex modulation regime, offering new opportunities for manipulating topological edge states in the time domain.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Levitated nano-trampoline resonators for magnetic field sensing

Levitated systems and high-$Q$ membrane nanomechanical resonators have achieved exceptional sensitivity in precision sensing, but functionalizing such resonators for practical applications without degrading their low dissipation remains challenging. Here, we combine diamagnetic levitation with a high-$Q$ nanomechanical resonator to realize a high-precision magnetometer for sensing weak oscillating magnetic fields. A macroscopic diamagnetically levitated graphite plate acts as a free-floating proof mass that couples strongly to magnetic fields, converting them into mechanical motion that is resonantly amplified by a low-dissipation nano-trampoline resonator. Operating at room temperature and without magnetic shielding, we achieve a peak magnetic-field sensitivity of $4.5\, \mathrm{pT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ using a resonator with a mechanical quality factor of $Q=6\times10^{6}$ at $443\, \mathrm{kHz}$. The system sensitivity is limited by thermomechanical noise. With further improvements in mechanical $Q$, this hybrid levitated platform offers a pathway toward femtotesla-level AC magnetic-field sensing, establishing diamagnetically levitated nanomechanical resonators as a new class of high-sensitivity magnetometers at room temperature.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Raman-Assisted Multiband Nonlinear Frequency-Conversion Network in a High-Q LTOI Microdisk

On-chip nonlinear frequency conversion offers a key route to broadband coherent light sources, but spanning telecom, visible, and ultraviolet wavelengths within a single resonator remains challenging. Lithium tantalate-on-insulator (LTOI), which has recently emerged as a promising material platform for integrated photonics, combines strong Raman activity, a large second-order nonlinearity, broad optical transparency and high resistance to photorefractive damage, thereby attracting increasing attention for on-chip nonlinear frequency conversion. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a Raman-assisted multiband frequency-conversion network in a high-Q LTOI microdisk with a loaded quality factor of 2.48x10^6. The resonant pumping produced high-purity single-mode Raman lasing with a 3.14 mW threshold, 32.44% slope efficiency, and an excellent side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 29.5 dB. Under a nearby pump condition, we also observe multiple Stokes components together with an anti-Stokes line on the short-wavelength side of the pump. The resulting multiple intracavity Stokes fields subsequently acted as frequency seeds for cascaded chi^(2) processes, producing near-infrared and visible signals and extending the emission to 312.6 nm in the ultraviolet. These findings establish the cooperative action of Raman gain and second-order nonlinearity across widely separated spectral bands within a single microcavity. The device therefore offers a route toward integrated multiband light sources and a platform for studying coupled nonlinear dynamics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

On-Chip Neodymium-Doped Lithium Niobate Microdisk Laser with Self-Induced Pulsing

Rare-earth-doped materials constitute the foundation of conventional solid-state lasers, but their bulk-crystal form is inherently incompatible with photonic integration, making it challenging to realize compact, high performance nanoscale laser sources. Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI), with its exceptional electro-optic and nonlinear optical properties, has emerged as one of the most promising platforms for integrated photonics. Combining Nd3+ doping with LNOI offers the unique possibility of uniting the efficient gain provided by Nd3+ ions with the excellent characteristics of LNOI. However, on-chip laser emission from Nd:LNOI has not been demonstrated previously. In this work, we report the first realization of an integrated Nd:LNOI microdisk laser, demonstrating lasing at 1094.17 nm under 785.10 nm pumping with a low threshold of 146 uW and a slope efficiency of 1.962*10^(-5). Beyond continuous-wave operation, we further observe self-induced laser pulsing on the hundred-microsecond scale, with a laser-pulse duration down to 500 us and an oscillation period of 6.45 ms, arising from nonlinear thermo-optic-photorefractive dynamics. We demonstrate stable continuous wave lasing and self-induced pulsed emission within a monolithically integrated Nd:LNOI cavity. Our results expand the operational degrees of freedom for LNOI-based lasers and open a new direction toward deeply integrated gain with intrinsic nonlinear dynamical processes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Dissipative dynamics and superradiant countinuous time crystal in a Rydberg-dressed Dicke system

The interplay between many-body interactions and controlled dissipation provides a rich framework for exploring nonequilibrium quantum phases. In this work, we explore an open Dicke model including Rydberg-dressed interactions in a driven-dissipative cavity and unveil its unique nonequilibrium dynamics therein. We find that Rydberg-dressed interactions generate an additional critical coupling, which alters the stability of fixed points and hence determines fruitful dynamical phase transitions. Beyond the mean-field limit, we demonstrate that our system supports a superradiant continuous time crystal (CTC) phase, proving CTC can exist in an interacting spin-1/2 system. By bridging driven-dissipative quantum cavity and interacting atomic systems, our Rydberg-dressed Dicke system offers measurable signatures from the cavity emission photons, making it experimentally feasible as a versatile platform for exploring dynamical phase transitions and macroscopic temporal order in open quantum matter.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Meta-cavity Quantum Electrodynamics

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) harnesses light-matter interactions to produce nonclassical light states. However, a fundamental challenge lies in simultaneously achieving Purcell enhancement and tailored wavefront control within a single cavity, due to conflicting resonator requirements. Here, we overcome this limitation by demonstrating triggered single-photon emission with customizable wavefronts from semiconductor quantum dots embedded in geometric-phase metacavities. These monolithic devices - only 200 nm thick - deliver Purcell-enhanced emission alongside spin-momentum-locked radiation, vortex beams, and holographic patterns. The meta-atom lattice provides high-Q optical confinement, while spatially modulated orientations enable efficient outcoupling of photons with designed states. This work establishes a new paradigm for intrinsically multiplexing metasurface-based wavefront shaping with cQED, enabling high-performance quantum light sources from subwavelength-scale monolithic platforms.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Optical Quasi-symmetry Groups for Meron Lattices

We introduce quasi-symmetry groups in optics emerging from the commutation between mirror operation and the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) of light. Contrary to the principle of symmetry inheritance in free-space optics, where the symmetry of any structured field is strictly constrained by that of its source, we show that strong SOI enables quasi-symmetry-protected formation of meron lattices even when the underlying optical sources violate the nominal rotational symmetry. By analyzing the Hermiticity of the electric-dipole radiation amplitude in a circular polarization basis, we derive an effective mirror operator acting only on a subset of C3 polarized dipole emitters, forming a quasi-symmetry group that commutes with SOI. This quasi-symmetry guarantees exact C3 merons and gives rise to a robust polarization zone within which continuously varying input polarizations generate identical topological textures. Our work establishes quasi-symmetry as a new fundamental principle in optical physics and opens pathways to engineered topological structures of light beyond conventional symmetry constraints.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Erdos-Turan photonic Ising machines with record-high coupling resolution

Ising machines have emerged as promising platforms for efficiently tackling a wide range of combinatorial optimization problems relevant to resource allocation, statistical inference and deep learning, yet their practical utility is fundamentally constrained by the coarse resolution of spin-spin couplings (Jij). Current implementations, relying on direct modulation of physical parameters, achieve at most 256 discrete coupling levels, which severely hinder the faithfully modeling of arbitrary real-valued interactions in realistic applications. Here we present a novel photonic Ising machine that encodes spins in random lattices while programming couplings in the momentum space of light. By introducing the Sidon set-a mathematical structure ensuring pairwise difference uniqueness - and employing the Erdos-Turan bound, we establish an optical framework in which each spin pair can be assigned a unique Jij. This approach decouples the resolution limit from hardware modulation to the spatial precision in the momentum space of light. Experimentally, we demonstrate a record-high coupling resolution of 7,038 on a simple photonic platform, surpassing previous Ising machines. Our results highlight the power of uniting discrete mathematics with momentum-space photonics, paving the way toward scalable Ising machines capable of faithfully modeling real-world optimization problems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

A compact quasi-zero stiffness metamaterial based on monolithic shells for vibration isolation

Quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) metamaterials are highly effective in isolating objects from low-frequency external vibrations, due to their high static stiffness but low dynamic stiffness characteristics. Traditionally, QZS metamaterials are designed by combining a negative-stiffness part with a positive-stiffness counterpart. Here, we present a novel QZS metamaterial design without relying on combining two components. The QZS characteristic is achieved solely through monolithic shell elements' unique geometry and nonlinear deformation. Using experimental and numerical approaches, we investigate the static and dynamic responses of the proposed metamaterials as a function of their geometric parameters. We then tune the structure's geometry to achieve ideal zero-stiffness behaviors and experimentally demonstrate an exceptional low-frequency vibration isolation mechanism. This concept can be further utilized as a building block for constructing metamaterials with multiple zero-stiffness features, enabling a broad range of applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Levitated macroscopic rotors with 10 hours of free spin at room temperature

Low-dissipation rotors with large angular momentum are essential for precision sensing and probing macroscopic quantum phenomena. To date, low dissipation can only be achieved for micro-scale rotors. Here, we report a diamagnetically levitated millimeter-scale rotor exhibiting a measured dissipation rate as low as $3.85\,\mu\mathrm{Hz}$ at room temperature, corresponding to a free spinning duration exceeding 10 hours. The rotor is levitated stably over an axisymmetric permanent magnet trap, and can be driven up to 930 RPM using contactless electrostatic actuation in high vacuum. Leveraging its low damping rate and large angular momentum, we realize a precision gyroscope with a measured sensitivity of $6.5 \times 10^{-3}\ \mathrm{^\circ/s}$ and an estimated thermal-limited stability of $5.7 \times 10^{-7}\ \mathrm{^\circ/\sqrt{h}}$. These results establish diamagnetic levitation as a promising room-temperature platform for high-performance gyroscopes.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Quantum walk with coherent multiple translations induces fast quantum gate operations

Quantum walks with one-dimensional translational symmetry are important for quantum algorithms, where the speed-up of the diffusion speed can be reached if long-range couplings are added. Our work studies a scheme of a ring under the strong resonant modulation that can support discrete-time quantum walk including coherent multiple long-range translations in a natural way along synthetic frequency dimension. These multiple translation paths are added in a coherent way, which makes the walker evolve under the topological band. Therein, not only the fast diffusion speed is expected, but more importantly, we find that single quantum gate operations can be performed in the quasi-momentum space. In particular, we show the arbitrary single-qubit state preparation and an example of CNOT two-qubit gate with only one time step, dramarically increasing quantum algorithms. Our study uses a single ring to provide fast quantum gate operations based on coherent multiple path quantum walk, which may provide unique designs for efficient quantum operations on photonic chips.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Erbium-doped lithium niobate waveguide amplifier enhanced by an inverse-designed on-chip reflector

This study presents a 3.6-cm-long erbium-doped lithium niobate waveguide amplifier enhanced by an inverse-designed on-chip reflector. Integrating the reflector at the waveguide end yielded an internal net gain of 40.5 dB, achieving a 17.3 dB gain improvement compared to a comparable reflector-free amplifier under small signal conditions. By eliminating bidirectional pumping requirements, the system complexity was reduced. These results highlight a novel strategy for optimizing integrated optical amplifiers, combining high gain with simplified architecture. The approach holds promise for advancing high-density photonic integrated systems, demonstrating the efficacy of inverse design in tailoring photonic device performance for practical applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

A comprehensive review on developments of synthetic dimensions

The concept of synthetic dimensions has emerged as a powerful framework in photonics and atomic physics, enabling the exploration of high-dimensional physics beyond conventional spatial constraints. Originally developed for quantum simulations in high dimensions, synthetic dimensions have since demonstrated advantages in designing novel Hamiltonians and manipulating quantum or optical states for exploring topological physics, and for applications in computing and information processing. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of progress in synthetic dimensions across photonic, atomic, and other physical platforms over the past decade. We showcase different approaches used to construct synthetic dimensions and highlight key physical phenomena enabled by the advantage of such a framework. By offering a unified perspective on developments in this field, we aim to provide insights into how synthetic dimensions can bridge fundamental physics and applied technologies, fostering interdisciplinary engagement in quantum simulation, atomic and photonic engineering, and information processing.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

High-performance thin-film lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulator on thick silica buffering layer

High-speed photonic integrated circuits leveraging the thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform present a promising approach to address the burgeoning global data traffic demands. As a pivotal component, TFLN-based electro-optic (EO) Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) should exhibit low driving voltage, broad operation bandwidth, high extinction ration, and low insertion loss. However, the pursuit of both maximal EO overlap integral and minimal microwave loss necessitates a fundamental compromise between driving voltage and operational bandwidth. Here, we demonstrate high-performance TFLN EO MZMs constructed on a 12-μm-thick silica buried layer using periodic capacitively loaded traveling-wave electrodes. In contrast to their counterparts utilizing undercut etched silicon substrates or quartz substrates, our devices exhibit streamlined fabrication processes and enhanced modulation efficiency. Notably, the fabricated MZMs attains a high modulation efficiency of 1.25 Vcm in the telecom C-band, while maintaining a low EO roll-off of 1.3 dB at 67 GHz. Our demonstration offers a pathway to achieving perfect group velocity matching and break the voltage-bandwidth limit in a simplified configuration suitable for volume fabrication, thereby laying foundational groundwork for the advancement of high-performance TFLN MZMs and benefiting the next-generation PICs in optical telecommunication, signal processing and other applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Brownian spin-locking effect

Brownian systems are characterized by spatiotemporal disorder, which arises from the erratic motion of particles driven by thermal fluctuations. When light interacts with such systems, it typically produces unpolarized and uncorrelated fields. Here, we report the observation of a large-scale spin-locking effect of light within a Brownian medium. In an observation direction perpendicular to the incident wave momentum, scattering naturally divides into two diffusion regions, each associated with an opposite spin from the Brownian nanoparticles. This effect arises from the intrinsic spin-orbit interactions of scattering from individual nanoparticles, which ubiquitously generate radiative spin fields that propagate through the Brownian medium with multiple incoherent scattering. It offers a novel experimental platform for exploring macroscale spin behaviors of diffused light, with potential applications in precision metrology for measuring various nanoparticle properties. Our findings may inspire the study of analogous phenomena for different waves from novel spin-orbit interactions in complex disordered systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Nearfield Vortex Dynamics of Supercell Bloch Modes

Densely arranged optical vortices are natural solutions of high-symmetry Bloch modes in photonic crystals. However, strict symmetry constraints limit the potential spatial configurations of nearfield vortices, restricting the control over light-matter interaction. Here, we demonstrate a nearfield vortex dynamic within a supercell photonic crystal. By introducing paired rotations of triangular structures, we achieve high-quality-factor Bloch mode transition from evanescent valley modes, to quasi-bound states in the continuum, frustrated modes, and quasi-valleys. Each stage exhibits distinct nearfield vortex distributions, nonlinear overlap properties, and quality factors, revealing diverse physical behaviors for tailoring light-matter interaction. Notably, the asymmetric vortex configuration of frustrated modes enhances second harmonic generation, driven by an optimized nonlinear overlap factor. Our paired-rotation strategy offers a versatile design framework for creating supercell photonic crystals with unique nearfield vortex properties, presenting promising applications in lasing, nonlinear optics and optical forces.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

The Magnetic Dislocation in Photonics

The dislocation created in the topological material lays the foundation of many significant findings to control light but requires delicate fabrication of the material. To extend its flexibility and reconfigurability, we propose the magnetic dislocation concept and unveil its properties in a representative model, which effectively combines the topological defect and edge mode at the magnetic domain wall. The results include distinct localization modes and robust light trapping phenomena with the rainbow feature where the eigen-energy of each light-trapping state can be linearly tuned by the magnetic dislocation. The conversion from the trapping state to edge modes can be harnessed by further adiabatically pumping light across an amount of the magnitude of the magnetic dislocation. Our work solves a fundamental problem by introducing magnetic dislocation with new light-manipulation flexibility, which may be implemented in a variety of platforms in photonic, acoustics, and optomechanics with dynamic modulations and synthetic dimensions.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Extreme narrow band in Moir\'e Photonic time crystal

The Moir\'e superlattice has attracted growing interest in the electromagnetic and optical communities. Here, we extend this concept to time-varying photonic systems by superposing two binary modulations on the refractive index with different modulation periods, i.e., the Moir\'e photonic time crystal (PTC). Such a Moir\'e PTC leads to extreme narrow bands in momentum space which supports temporal localized modes, exhibiting periodically self-reconstructing pulse in time domain. We investigate how the modulation parameters change the bandstructure of the Moir\'e PTC and the temporal localization behavior. Moreover, we explore mode-locking mechanism in frequency space in the Moir\'e PTC, which points towards potential applications in mode-locked lasers with tunable time width of the emitted pulses. Our work therefore extends the study of PTC to complex modulation patterns, and unveils new possibility in wave manipulation with time-varying systems.

physics.optics↗