Featured
-
-
Article |
Topological steering of light by nematic vortices and analogy to cosmic strings
Liquid crystal (LC) applications typically rely on defining the non-topological spatial patterns of the optical axis. Here, the authors demonstrate the topological steering of light by LC nematic vortices, futher establishing an analogy between topological light steering by LC vortices and cosmic strings.
- Cuiling Meng
- , Jin-Sheng Wu
- & Ivan I. Smalyukh
-
Article |
Photocurrent-driven transient symmetry breaking in the Weyl semimetal TaAs
The authors demonstrate ultrafast symmetry breaking by optically driven photocurrents.
- N. Sirica
- , P. P. Orth
- & R. P. Prasankumar
-
Review Article |
Topology and geometry under the nonlinear electromagnetic spotlight
This Review focuses on nonlinear electromagnetic responses that arise from quantum geometry and topology.
- Qiong Ma
- , Adolfo G. Grushin
- & Kenneth S. Burch
-
Article |
Bosonic condensation of exciton–polaritons in an atomically thin crystal
A coherent condensate of exciton–polaritons, extending spatially up to 4 µm and spin-polarizable with an external magnetic field, is observed at cryogenic temperatures in a MoSe2 monolayer embedded in a vertical microcavity.
- Carlos Anton-Solanas
- , Maximilian Waldherr
- & Christian Schneider
-
Article |
A light-induced phononic symmetry switch and giant dissipationless topological photocurrent in ZrTe5
Femtosecond optical pulses are used to generate coherent phonons that break inversion symmetry and drive anisotropic terahertz photocurrents in the topological material ZrTe5.
- Liang Luo
- , Di Cheng
- & Jigang Wang
-
Article |
Realizing spin Hamiltonians in nanoscale active photonic lattices
Vectorial electromagnetic modes in coupled metallic nanolasers are used to emulate the behaviour of complex magnetic materials, providing an integrated nanophotonic platform to study spin exchange interactions and map large-scale optimization problems.
- Midya Parto
- , William Hayenga
- & Mercedeh Khajavikhan
-
Article |
Spatially dispersive circular photogalvanic effect in a Weyl semimetal
A spatially dispersive photoresponse is found in a topological semimetal.
- Zhurun Ji
- , Gerui Liu
- & Ritesh Agarwal
-
Article |
Colossal mid-infrared bulk photovoltaic effect in a type-I Weyl semimetal
A large bulk photovoltaic effect is observed in the type-I Weyl semimetal TaAs, and attributed to the diverging Berry curvature of the Weyl nodes.
- Gavin B. Osterhoudt
- , Laura K. Diebel
- & Kenneth S. Burch
-
Article |
Nonlinear photoresponse of type-II Weyl semimetals
A large photoresponse is observed in the type-II Weyl semimetal TaIrTe4, and attributed to the diverging Berry curvature of the Weyl nodes.
- Junchao Ma
- , Qiangqiang Gu
- & Dong Sun
-
Letter |
A sub-femtojoule electrical spin-switch based on optically trapped polariton condensates
The spin-switching of optically induced polariton condensates can be externally controlled with an electric field, with switching energies below 0.5 fJ.
- Alexander Dreismann
- , Hamid Ohadi
- & Jeremy J. Baumberg
-
Review Article |
The road towards polaritonic devices
This review discusses exciton–polaritons in microcavities and their emerging technological applications, with emphasis on the materials challenges for operation at room temperature.
- Daniele Sanvitto
- & Stéphane Kéna-Cohen
-
-
Article |
Backward phase-matching for nonlinear optical generation in negative-index materials
Phase matching in the backward direction—the so-called nonlinear mirror effect—is demonstrated experimentally between the fundamental and second harmonic, using two distinct modes in a metal–dielectric–metal waveguide.
- Shoufeng Lan
- , Lei Kang
- & Wenshan Cai
-
Letter |
Predicting nonlinear properties of metamaterials from the linear response
Nonlinear scattering theory, contrary to Miller’s rule, is shown to be able to establish the nonlinear optical response of metamaterials, a tool that can be used towards the efficient design of strongly nonlinear metamaterials.
- Kevin O’Brien
- , Haim Suchowski
- & Xiang Zhang
-
News & Views |
Modulating optical power
Effective limiting of the intensity of low-power light transmitted through organic thin films under ambient conditions has been achieved by proper design of donor–acceptor systems.
- Anjun Qin
- & Ben Zhong Tang
-
Article |
Large reverse saturable absorption under weak continuous incoherent light
Aromatic molecules and transition-metal complexes dispersed in hydroxyl steroidal matrices reveal efficient reverse saturable absorption when irradiated with low-power light. These materials extend the range of applications of optical limiters.
- Shuzo Hirata
- , Kenro Totani
- & Martin Vacha
-
Letter |
Room-temperature Bose–Einstein condensation of cavity exciton–polaritons in a polymer
Bose–Einstein condensates of exciton–polaritons have been stabilized in a range of crystalline systems. Now, polaritons are shown to condense at room temperature using a microcavity within an organic polymer.
- Johannes D. Plumhof
- , Thilo Stöferle
- & Rainer F. Mahrt
-
-
News & Views |
Stretching silicon's potential
The application of inhomogeneous strain to silicon photonic structures may lead to new optically active devices based on second-order nonlinear processes.
- Clemens Schriever
- & Ralf B. Wehrspohn
-
Article |
Second-harmonic generation in silicon waveguides strained by silicon nitride
Photonic devices on silicon offer the benefit of combining advanced electronic functionality with the high bandwidth of silicon photonics. Now, efficient second-order nonlinear activity in silicon waveguides strained by a silicon nitride top layer considerably advances the potential of all-optical data management on a silicon platform.
- M. Cazzanelli
- , F. Bianco
- & L. Pavesi
-
Letter |
Optical negative refraction by four-wave mixing in thin metallic nanostructures
Artificial materials that show negative refraction can be used for devices such as perfect lenses. The demonstration of negative refraction in nanostructured metal films, using a nonlinear optical effect—four-wave mixing—therefore opens new possibilities for optical devices.
- Stefano Palomba
- , Shuang Zhang
- & Xiang Zhang
Light-induced electronic polarization in antiferromagnetic Cr2O3
Ultrafast responses