Topological Spaser

We theoretically introduce a topological spaser, which consists of a hexagonal array of plasmonic metal nanoshells containing an achiral gain medium in their cores. Such a spaser can generate two mutually time-reversed chiral surface plasmon modes in the K and K^{'} valleys, which carry the opp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2020-01, Vol.124 (1), p.017701-017701, Article 017701
Main Authors: Wu, Jhih-Sheng, Apalkov, Vadym, Stockman, Mark I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bistability
Broken symmetry
Chirality
Data processing
Optical memory (data storage)
OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Physics
Topology
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Summary:We theoretically introduce a topological spaser, which consists of a hexagonal array of plasmonic metal nanoshells containing an achiral gain medium in their cores. Such a spaser can generate two mutually time-reversed chiral surface plasmon modes in the K and K^{'} valleys, which carry the opposite topological charges, ±1, and are described by a two-dimensional E^{'} representation of the D_{3h} point symmetry group. Due to the mode competition, this spaser exhibits a bistability: only one of these two modes generates, which is a spontaneous symmetry breaking. Such a spaser can be used for an ultrafast all-optical memory and information processing, and biomedical detection and sensing with chirality resolution.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.017701