Zhaoju Yang

Origin of the colossal dielectric permittivity and magnetocapacitance in LuFe2O4

We report the detailed study on the colossal dielectric constant and magnetocapacitance of LuFe2O4. The experimental results indicate that the large dielectric constant of LuFe2O4 is originated from two sources, (1) Maxwell Wagner-type contributions of depletion layers at grain boundaries and the interfaces between sample and contacts, (2) AC response of the constant phase element in the bulk. A detailed equivalent circuit analysis indicates that the conductivity variation can be responsible for the observed “magnetocapacitance.”

Topologically protected refraction of robust kink states in valley photonic crystals

A photonic crystal can realize an analogue of a valley Hall insulator, promising more flexibility than in condensed-matter systems to explore these exotic topological states. Recently discovered1,2 valley photonic crystals (VPCs) mimic many of the unusual properties of two-dimensional (2D) gapped valleytronic materials3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Of the utmost interest to optical communications is their ability to support topologically protected chiral edge (kink) states3,4,5,6,7,8,9 at the internal domain wall between two VPCs with opposite valley-Chern indices. Here we experimentally demonstrate valley-polarized kink states with polarization multiplexing in VPCs, designed from a spin-compatible four-band model. When the valley pseudospin is conserved, we show that the kink states exhibit nearly perfect out-coupling efficiency into directional beams, through the intersection between the internal domain wall and the external edge separating the VPCs from ambient space. The out-coupling behaviour remains topologically protected even when we break the spin-like polarization degree of freedom (DOF), by introducing an effective spin–orbit coupling in one of the VPC domains. This also constitutes the first realization of spin–valley locking for topological valley transport.

Splashing transients of 2D plasmons launched by swift electrons

Revealing how 2D plasmons emerge and evolve in electron energy–loss spectroscopy (EELS). Launching of plasmons by swift electrons has long been used in electron energy–loss spectroscopy (EELS) to investigate the plasmonic properties of ultrathin, or two-dimensional (2D), electron systems. However, the question of how a swift electron generates plasmons in space and time has never been answered. We address this issue by calculating and demonstrating the spatial-temporal dynamics of 2D plasmon generation in graphene. We predict a jet-like rise of excessive charge concentration that delays the generation of 2D plasmons in EELS, exhibiting an analog to the hydrodynamic Rayleigh jet in a splashing phenomenon before the launching of ripples. The photon radiation, analogous to the splashing sound, accompanies the plasmon emission and can be understood as being shaken off by the Rayleigh jet–like charge concentration. Considering this newly revealed process, we argue that previous estimates on the yields of graphene plasmons in EELS need to be reevaluated.

Vertical Transport of Subwavelength Localized Surface Electromagnetic Modes

Transport of subwavelength electromagnetic (EM) energy has been achieved through near-field coupling of highly confined surface EM modes supported by plasmonic nanoparticles, in a configuration usually staying on a two-dimensional (2D) substrate. Vertical transport of similar modes along the third dimension, on the other hand, can bring more flexibility in designs of functional photonic devices, but this phenomenon has not been observed in reality. In this paper, designer (or spoof) surface plasmon resonators (plasmonic meta-atoms) are stacked in the direction vertical to their individual planes in demonstrating vertical transport of subwavelength localized surface EM modes. Dispersion relation of this vertical transport is determined from coupled mode theory and is verified with near-field transmission spectrum and field mapping with a microwave near-field scanning stage. This work extends the near-field coupled resonator optical waveguide (CROW) theory into the vertical direction, and may find applications in novel three-dimensional slow light structures, filters, and photonic circuits.

Acoustic Type-II Weyl Nodes from Stacking Dimerized Chains

Lorentz-violating type-II Weyl fermions, which were missed in Weyls prediction of nowadays classified type-I Weyl fermions in quantum field theory, have recently been proposed in condensed matter systems. The semimetals hosting type-II Weyl fermions offer a rare platform for realizing many exotic physical phenomena that are different from type-I Weyl systems. Here we construct the acoustic version of a type-II Weyl Hamiltonian by stacking one-dimensional dimerized chains of acoustic resonators. This acoustic type-II Weyl system exhibits distinct features in a finite density of states and unique transport properties of Fermi-arc-like surface states. In a certain momentum space direction, the velocity of these surface states is determined by the tilting direction of the type-II Weyl nodes rather than the chirality dictated by the Chern number. Our study also provides an approach of constructing acoustic topological phases at different dimensions with the same building blocks.

Heteroepitaxial growth of SnO2 thin films on SrTiO3 (111) single crystal substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy

SnO2 films with a thickness around 150 nm were deposited on the (111) surface of a SrTiO3 single crystal substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy technique in a temperature range 600–750 °C and oxygen pressure from 10−3 to 1 Pa, respectively. The growth behavior was in situ monitored by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, and the epitaxial relations were further investigated by ex situ x-ray diffraction measurement in different geometries. All the films were confirmed to be highly (200) oriented showing good crystalline quality, despite the large lattice mismatch between SnO2 and SrTiO3. Based on the crystallographic model and structure analysis, six equivalent directions in the SrTiO3 (111) surface for the nucleation of SnO2 were discovered, which confirmed the existence of sixfold symmetrical domains in the SnO2 epilayer. Additionally, the optical dielectric function of the SnO2/SrTiO3 epitaxial film was simulated by the Tauc–Lorentz–Drude model in the UV-vis-NIR region.

Experimental demonstration of high-order magnetic localized spoof surface plasmons

We experimentally demonstrate that an ultrathin metallic spiral structure is able to support multiple high-order magnetic localized spoof surface plasmons (LSSPs), which were absent in previously reported magnetic LSSPs. Near-field response spectra and near-field mapping are performed in the microwave regime to confirm this phenomenon. We also show that the high-order magnetic LSSPs are more sensitive to the surrounding refractive index change than the previously reported magnetic dipole mode. Our study may be useful in electromagnetic near-field sensing from microwave to infrared frequencies.

Caustic graphene plasmons with Kelvin angle

A century-long argument made by Lord Kelvin that all swimming objects have an effective Mach number of 3, corresponding to the Kelvin angle of 19.5 degree for ship waves, has been recently challenged with the conclusion that the Kelvin angle should gradually transit to the Mach angle as the ship velocity increases. Here we show that a similar phenomenon can happen for graphene plasmons. By analyzing the caustic wave pattern of graphene plasmons stimulated by a swift charged particle moving uniformly above graphene, we show that at low velocities of the charged particle, the caustics of graphene plasmons form the Kelvin angle. At large velocities of the particle, the caustics disappear and the effective semi-angle of the wave pattern approaches the Mach angle. Our study introduces caustic wave theory to the field of graphene plasmonics, and reveals a novel physical picture of graphene plasmon excitation during electron energy-loss spectroscopy measurement.

Topological water wave states in a one-dimensional structure

Topological concepts have been introduced into electronic, photonic, and phononic systems, but have not been studied in surface-water-wave systems. Here we study a one-dimensional periodic resonant surface-water-wave system and demonstrate its topological transition. By selecting three different water depths, we can construct different types of water waves - shallow, intermediate and deep water waves. The periodic surface-water-wave system consists of an array of cylindrical water tanks connected with narrow water channels. As the width of connecting channel varies, the band diagram undergoes a topological transition which can be further characterized by Zak phase. This topological transition holds true for shallow, intermediate and deep water waves. However, the interface state at the boundary separating two topologically distinct arrays of water tanks can exhibit different bands for shallow, intermediate and deep water waves. Our work studies for the first time topological properties of water wave systems, and paves the way to potential management of water waves.

Strain-Induced Gauge Field and Landau Levels in Acoustic Structures

The emerging field of topological acoustics that explores novel gauge-field-related phenomena for sound has drawn attention in recent years. However, previous approaches constructing a synthetic gauge field for sound predominantly relied on a periodic system, being unable to form a uniform effective magnetic field, thus lacking access to some typical magnetic-induced quantum phenomena such as Landau energy quantization. Here we introduce strain engineering, previously developed in graphene electronics and later transferred to photonics, into a two-dimensional acoustic structure in order to form a uniform effective magnetic field for airborne acoustic wave propagation. Landau levels in the energy spectrum can be formed near the Dirac cone region. We also propose an experimentally feasible scheme to verify the existence of acoustic Landau levels with an acoustic measurement. As a new freedom of constructing a synthetic gauge field for sound, our study offers a path to previously inaccessible magneticlike effects in traditional periodic acoustic structures.