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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Simulation, Fabrication and Characterization of THz Metamaterial Absorbers
Published on: December 27, 2012
Ultrasensitive Higher-Order Exceptional Points via Non-Hermitian Zero-Index Materials
Dongyang Yan1, Alexander S Shalin2,3, Yongxing Wang4
1Soochow University, School of Physical Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Frontier Material Physics and Devices, Suzhou 215006, China.
Abstract:
Higher-order exceptional points (EPs) in optical structures enable ultrasensitive responses to perturbations. However, previous investigations on higher-order EPs have predominantly focused on coupled systems, leaving their fundamental physics in open scattering systems largely unexplored. Here, we harness wave interference to realize higher-order EPs in non-Hermitian zero-index materials connected to multiple open channels. Specifically, we show that a three-channel model can give rise to three interesting types of third-order EPs: lasing EP, reflecting EP, and absorbing EP. Notably, near the third-order absorbing EP, we show ultrasensitivity-a drastic change in output power in response to perturbations at the operating frequency-in a purely lossy system. These findings pave the way for achieving higher-order and even arbitrary-order EPs in open scattering systems, offering significant potential for advanced sensing applications.
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