Phys.org April 24, 2024
Although in electronic crystals, magnetic fields can be used to induce a multitude of unique phenomena, the uncharged nature of photons necessitates alternative approaches to bring about similar control over photons at the nanoscale. Researchers in the Netherlands demonstrated experimentally pseudomagnetic fields in two-dimensional photonic crystals through engineered strain of the lattice. Taking advantage of the photonic crystal’s design freedom, they realized domains of opposite pseudomagnetic field and observed chiral edge states at their interface. They revealed that the strain-induced states could achieve remarkably high quality factors despite being phase matched to the radiation continuum. Together with the high density of states and high degeneracy associated with flat bands, this provided powerful prospects for enhancing light–matter interactions, and illustrated the broad potential of psdeudomagnetic fields in the nanophotonic domain. According to the researchers they established a new design principle to govern both on-chip and radiating light fields… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Sample geometry and strain-induced Landau levels. Credit: Nature Photonics, 23 April 2024