All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum
Abstract Resonances are usually associated with finite systems—the vibrations of clamped strings in a guitar or the optical modes in a cavity defined by mirrors. In optics, resonances may be induced in infinite continuous media via periodic modulations of their optical properties. Here we demonstrat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Light: Science & Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01843-9 |
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| author | Rodrigo Berté Thomas Possmayer Andreas Tittl Leonardo de S. Menezes Stefan A. Maier |
| author_facet | Rodrigo Berté Thomas Possmayer Andreas Tittl Leonardo de S. Menezes Stefan A. Maier |
| author_sort | Rodrigo Berté |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Resonances are usually associated with finite systems—the vibrations of clamped strings in a guitar or the optical modes in a cavity defined by mirrors. In optics, resonances may be induced in infinite continuous media via periodic modulations of their optical properties. Here we demonstrate that periodic modulations of the permittivity of a featureless thin film can also act as a symmetry-breaking mechanism, allowing the excitation of photonic quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBICs). By interfering two ultrashort laser pulses in the unbounded film, transient resonances can be tailored through different parameters of the pump beams. We show that the system offers resonances tunable in wavelength and quality-factor, and spectrally selective enhancement of third-harmonic generation. Due to a fast decay of the permittivity asymmetry, we observe ultrafast dynamics, enabling time-selective near-field enhancement with picosecond precision. Optically induced permittivity asymmetries may be exploited in on-demand weak to ultrastrong light-matter interaction regimes and light manipulation at dynamically chosen wavelengths in lithography-free metasurfaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1cc926105144806b3115a7c82f92a47 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2047-7538 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Light: Science & Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1cc926105144806b3115a7c82f92a472025-08-20T03:45:32ZengNature Publishing GroupLight: Science & Applications2047-75382025-05-0114111110.1038/s41377-025-01843-9All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuumRodrigo Berté0Thomas Possmayer1Andreas Tittl2Leonardo de S. Menezes3Stefan A. Maier4Chair in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nanoinstitut München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenChair in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nanoinstitut München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenChair in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nanoinstitut München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenChair in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nanoinstitut München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Monash UniversityAbstract Resonances are usually associated with finite systems—the vibrations of clamped strings in a guitar or the optical modes in a cavity defined by mirrors. In optics, resonances may be induced in infinite continuous media via periodic modulations of their optical properties. Here we demonstrate that periodic modulations of the permittivity of a featureless thin film can also act as a symmetry-breaking mechanism, allowing the excitation of photonic quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBICs). By interfering two ultrashort laser pulses in the unbounded film, transient resonances can be tailored through different parameters of the pump beams. We show that the system offers resonances tunable in wavelength and quality-factor, and spectrally selective enhancement of third-harmonic generation. Due to a fast decay of the permittivity asymmetry, we observe ultrafast dynamics, enabling time-selective near-field enhancement with picosecond precision. Optically induced permittivity asymmetries may be exploited in on-demand weak to ultrastrong light-matter interaction regimes and light manipulation at dynamically chosen wavelengths in lithography-free metasurfaces.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01843-9 |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo Berté Thomas Possmayer Andreas Tittl Leonardo de S. Menezes Stefan A. Maier All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum Light: Science & Applications |
| title | All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum |
| title_full | All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum |
| title_fullStr | All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum |
| title_full_unstemmed | All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum |
| title_short | All-optical permittivity-asymmetric quasi-bound states in the continuum |
| title_sort | all optical permittivity asymmetric quasi bound states in the continuum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01843-9 |
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