Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
09:00
Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
9.3K
Observation of surface states with algebraic localization.
G Corrielli1, G Della Valle1, A Crespi1
1Dipartimento di Fisica-Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy and Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Physical Review Letters
|December 17, 2013
Summary
We demonstrate novel surface bound states with algebraic decay in a 1D lattice. These states are stable and embedded within the scattering spectrum, shown in optical waveguide arrays.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Photonics
Background:
- Surface bound states are crucial in condensed matter physics, influencing material properties.
- Algebraic decay offers unique localization characteristics compared to exponential decay.
- One-dimensional lattices provide a simplified yet powerful platform for studying fundamental physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and experimentally verify a class of surface bound states exhibiting algebraic decay.
- To investigate the stability of these states against perturbations.
- To explore their energy characteristics within the scattering spectrum.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical introduction of algebraic surface bound states in a one-dimensional tight-binding lattice model.
- Experimental realization using an array of evanescently coupled optical waveguides.
- Tailoring of coupling rates to control state localization and properties.
Main Results:
- Successful demonstration of surface bound states with algebraic localization.
- Observation of state energy embedded within the scattering continuum.
- Confirmation of structural stability against variations in lattice parameters.
Conclusions:
- Algebraic surface bound states are experimentally achievable and robust.
- These states offer new possibilities for controlling wave localization in physical systems.
- The findings pave the way for novel photonic and condensed matter devices.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Equipotential Surfaces and Field Lines
4.2K
Electric potential can be pictorially represented as a three-dimensional surface. On such a surface, the electric potential is constant everywhere. The equipotential surface is always perpendicular to the electric field lines, and while it is three-dimensional, it can be treated as an equipotential line in a two-dimensional case. These equipotential lines are also always perpendicular to electric field lines. The term equipotential is often used as a noun, referring to an equipotential line or...
4.2K
01:16Equipotential Surfaces and Conductors
5.1K
For a conductor in which all charges are at rest, the conductor's surface is equipotential. The electric field is always perpendicular to equipotential surfaces. Therefore, in a conductor with static charges, the electric field just outside the conductor is always perpendicular to the conductor's surface. Any tangential component of the electric field will cause charges to move inside the conductor, which will violate the electrostatic nature of the system. In an electrostatic...
5.1K
01:27State Space Representation
785
The frequency-domain technique, commonly used in analyzing and designing feedback control systems, is effective for linear, time-invariant systems. However, it falls short when dealing with nonlinear, time-varying, and multiple-input multiple-output systems. The time-domain or state-space approach addresses these limitations by utilizing state variables to construct simultaneous, first-order differential equations, known as state equations, for an nth-order system.
Consider an RLC circuit, a...
Consider an RLC circuit, a...
785
01:12Fermi Level Dynamics
1.1K
The vacuum level denotes the energy threshold required for an electron to escape from a material surface. It is usually positioned above the conduction band of a semiconductor and acts as a benchmark for comparing electron energies within various materials.
Electron affinity in semiconductors refers to the energy gap between the minimum of its conduction band and the vacuum level and it is a critical parameter in determining how easily a semiconductor can accept additional electrons.
The work...
Electron affinity in semiconductors refers to the energy gap between the minimum of its conduction band and the vacuum level and it is a critical parameter in determining how easily a semiconductor can accept additional electrons.
The work...
1.1K
01:27State Function, Exact and Inexact Differentials
173
A state function is a thermodynamic property that depends solely on the current state of a system, irrespective of its history or how it arrived at that state. These functions are represented by capital letters, such as U, H, and S, which stand for internal energy, enthalpy, and entropy, respectively.For instance, the value of internal energy depends on the system's state variables and remains unaffected by the process path. This means that whether the system underwent a linear process or a...
173
01:26Electric Field at the Surface of a Conductor
4.6K
Consider a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium. The net electric field inside a conductor vanishes, and extra charges on the conductor reside on its outer surface, regardless of where they originate.
In the 19th century, Michael Faraday conducted the famous ice pail experiment to prove that the charges always reside on the surface of a conductor. The experimental set-up consists of a conducting uncharged container mounted on an insulating stand. The outer surface of the container is...
In the 19th century, Michael Faraday conducted the famous ice pail experiment to prove that the charges always reside on the surface of a conductor. The experimental set-up consists of a conducting uncharged container mounted on an insulating stand. The outer surface of the container is...
4.6K