Hyperbolic Plasmons Propagate through a Nodal Metal

Metals are canonical plasmonic media at infrared and optical wavelengths allowing one to guide and manipulate light at sub-diffractional length scales. A special form of optical waveguiding is offered by highly anisotropic crystals revealing different signs of the dielectric function along orthogonal directions. These latter types of media are classified as hyperbolic and many crystalline insulators, semiconductors and artificial metal-based metamaterials belong to that class. Layered anisotropic metals are also anticipated to support hyperbolic waveguiding. Yet this behavior remains elusive primarily because interband processes introduce extreme losses and arrest light propagation. Here, we report on the observation of propagating hyperbolic waves in a prototypical layered nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe. The unique electronic structure with touching energy bands at nodal points/lines suppresses losses and enables a hyperbolic regime at the telecommunications frequencies. The observed waveguiding in metallic ZrSiSe is a product of polaritonic hybridization between near-infrared light and long-lived nodal-line plasmons. By mapping the energy-momentum dispersion of the nodal-line hyperbolic modes in ZrSiSe we inquired into the role of additional screening associated with the surface states.

Elastic ice microfibers

Ice is known to be a rigid and brittle crystal that fractures when deformed. We demonstrate that ice grown as single-crystal ice microfibers (IMFs) with diameters ranging from 10 micrometers to less than 800 nanometers is highly elastic. Under cryotemperature, we could reversibly bend the IMFs up to a maximum strain of 10.9%, which approaches the theoretical elastic limit. We also observed a pressure-induced phase transition of ice from Ih to II on the compressive side of sharply bent IMFs. The high optical quality allows for low-loss optical waveguiding and whispering-gallery-mode resonance in our IMFs. The discovery of these flexible ice fibers opens opportunities for exploring ice physics and ice-related technology on micro- and nanometer scales.

Quantum Signal over Optical Fiber

This chapter aims to address the quantum signal role and properties in optical fiber application mainly in quantum communication. It covers the general discussion on quantum bits and optical waveguiding properties. The highlight of this chapter lies in the discussion of the quantum fictitious force of anti-centrifugal force which was first reported in 2001. Under this condition, the free particle experience an attractive potential towards the rotating center of a bent waveguide structure. A lot of theoretical work has been carried out to observe this quantum phenomenon. However, no intensive experimental work has been carried out to date. With the advancement of nano-fabrication technology and quantum experimental, it provides a bright potential to observe these phenomena. Thus, we proposed a promising material of Lithium Niobate on Insulator to serve as a waveguiding platform to study this quantum effect experimentally. The discussion is extended to perceive the relation between Schrodinger and Helmholtz’s equation corresponding to this effect.