Plasmon geometric phase and plasmon Hall shift

The collective plasmonic modes of a metal comprise a pattern of charge density and tightly-bound electric fields that oscillate in lock-step to yield enhanced light-matter interaction. Here we show that metals with non-zero Hall conductivity host plasmons with a fine internal structure: they are characterized by a current density configuration that sharply departs from that of ordinary zero Hall conductivity metals. This non-trivial internal structure dramatically enriches the dynamics of plasmon propagation, enabling plasmon wavepackets to acquire geometric phases as they scatter. Strikingly, at boundaries these phases accumulate allowing plasmon waves that reflect off to experience a non-reciprocal parallel shift along the boundary displacing the incident and reflected plasmon trajectories. This plasmon Hall shift, tunable by Hall conductivity as well as plasmon wavelength, displays the chirality of the plasmon's current distribution and can be probed by near-field photonics techniques. Anomalous plasmon dynamics provide a real-space window into the inner structure of plasmon bands, as well as new means for directing plasmonic beams

Large optical conductivity of Dirac semimetal Fermi arc surfaces states

Fermi arc surface states, a hallmark of topological Dirac semimetals, can host carriers that exhibit unusual dynamics distinct from that of their parent bulk. Here we find that Fermi arc carriers in intrinsic Dirac semimetals possess a strong and anisotropic light matter interaction. This is characterized by a large Fermi arc optical conductivity when light is polarized transverse to the Fermi arc; when light is polarized along the Fermi arc, Fermi arc optical conductivity is significantly muted. The large surface spectral weight is locked to the wide separation between Dirac nodes and persists as a large Drude weight of Fermi arc carriers when the system is doped. As a result, large and anisotropic Fermi arc conductivity provides a novel means of optically interrogating the topological surfaces states of Dirac semimetals.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

The influence of Chinese cultural values on consumer perceptions and behavioral intention towards an apparel mass customization website

Mass customization may deliver superior value to consumers compared to mass production because it provides personalized products with prices close to mass produced products. This assertion was made under the conditions and assumptions in Western societies where individual needs, rights, and interests are greatly valued. It is not known whether mass customization will deliver similar value to consumers in other societies, where different value systems exist. The purpose of the present study was to examine Chinese consumers\u27 responses toward mass customization and the influence of Chinese cultural values on these responses.;This study focused on web-based apparel mass customization and investigated (a) the effects of product price and customization level on consumers\u27 perceived value and (b) the effects of perceived value on consumers\u27 behavioral intention. Additionally, this research examined the moderating roles of Chinese cultural values on the relationships between the marketing attributes (price and customization level) and perceived value and between perceived value and behavioral intention.;The study used a between-subject experimental design involving manipulations of price and customization level. Four different treatments of a t-shirt website, resulting from the combination of two price levels and two customization levels, were used as the stimuli. A total of 344 participants from China participated in the study. Each respondent browsed one of the four randomly assigned treatments and completed an online questionnaire. Structural equation models were used to test the hypotheses.;Results showed that higher price significantly reduced Chinese consumers\u27 perception of economic value and efficiency, as hypothesized. Mass customization significantly enhanced consumers\u27 perceptions of product quality, enjoyment, and escapism, as hypothesized. However, respondents did not perceive enhanced economic value from the mass customization treatments. As hypothesized, perceived value explained behavioral intention. The study also found that two Chinese cultural values, relational orientation and man-nature orientation, significantly moderated the relationships between marketing attributes and perceived value and between perceive value and behavioral intention. These findings provide information needed for decision-making about marketing strategies for companies that would like to implement mass customization in China

How the X(5568) challenges our understanding of QCD

We discuss the X(5568) particle recently announced by the D0 Collaboration. Several types of models were proposed to explain this structure in the literature. As pointed out by Burns and Swanson (arXiv:1603.04366), none of them provides a satisfactory description of the observation. We provide additional arguments using general properties of QCD, and conclude that the observation of the X(5568), if confirmed, poses serious challenges to our understanding of nonperturbative QCD.Comment: 5 pages. Typos removed, a wrong statement corrected, conclusions unchanged; the LHCb preliminary result mentioned at the en