Binary matrices of optimal autocorrelations as alignment marks

We define a new class of binary matrices by maximizing the peak-sidelobe distances in the aperiodic autocorrelations. These matrices can be used as robust position marks for in-plane spatial alignment. The optimal square matrices of dimensions up to 7 by 7 and optimal diagonally-symmetric matrices of 8 by 8 and 9 by 9 were found by exhaustive searches.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures and 1 tabl

Multimode One-Way Waveguides of Large Chern Numbers

Current experimental realizations of the quantum anomalous Hall phase in both electronic and photonic systems have been limited to a Chern number of one. In photonics, this corresponds to a single-mode one-way edge waveguide. Here, we predict quantum anomalous Hall phases in photonic crystals with large Chern numbers of 2, 3, and 4. These new topological phases were found by simultaneously gapping multiple Dirac and quadratic points. We demonstrate a continuously tunable power splitter as a possible application of multimode one-way waveguides. All our findings are readily realizable at microwave frequencies.MIT Tom Frank FellowshipNational Science Foundation (U.S.). Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (Program) (Grant DMR-0819762)United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Science (Solid-State Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion Center Grant DE-SC0001299)United States. Army Research Office (Contract W911NF-13-D-0001

Experimental Observation of Large Chern numbers in Photonic Crystals

Despite great interest in the quantum anomalous Hall phase and its analogs, all experimental studies in electronic and bosonic systems have been limited to a Chern number of one. Here, we perform microwave transmission measurements in the bulk and at the edge of ferrimagnetic photonic crystals. Bandgaps with large Chern numbers of 2, 3, and 4 are present in the experimental results which show excellent agreement with theory. We measure the mode profiles and Fourier transform them to produce dispersion relations of the edge modes, whose number and direction match our Chern number calculations.Comment: This experimental work was accepted to PRL on Oct. 13, 2015. Our theoretical work from PRL http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.11390

Quantum \v{C}erenkov Radiation: Spectral Cutoffs and the Role of Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum

We show that the well-known \v{C}erenkov Effect contains new phenomena arising from the quantum nature of charged particles. The \v{C}erenkov transition amplitudes allow coupling between the charged particle and the emitted photon through their orbital angular momentum (OAM) and spin, by scattering into preferred angles and polarizations. Importantly, the spectral response reveals a discontinuity immediately below a frequency cutoff that can occur in the optical region. Specifically, with proper shaping of electron beams (ebeams), we predict that the traditional \v{C}erenkov radiation angle splits into two distinctive cones of photonic shockwaves. One of the shockwaves can move along a backward cone, otherwise considered impossible for \v{C}erenkov radiation in ordinary matter. Our findings are observable for ebeams with realistic parameters, offering new applications including novel quantum optics sources, and open a new realm for \v{C}erenkov detectors involving the spin and orbital angular momentum of charged particles.Comment: 27 pages, 3 figure

Viscoelasticity of stepped interfaces

Using molecular dynamics modeling, we show that interfaces in sputter deposited Cu-Nb superlattices exhibit time-dependent elasticity, i.e., viscoelasticity, under shear loading. In the high temperature and small strain rate limit, the interfacial shear modulus approaches a value proportional to the density of steps in the interface. It may therefore be possible to tailor the low-frequency shear moduli of interfaces by controlling their step densities.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1150862)MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI-Chile Seed Grant)MIT Energy Initiative (Summer Fellowship

The role of thermal spike compactness in radiation-induced disordering and Frenkel pair production in Ni[subscript 3]Al

We show that the shape of the kinetic energy distribution in radiation-induced thermal spikes may be described using a dimensionless number, proportional to (volume)[superscript 2/3]/(surface area), known as compactness. The disorder produced in thermal spikes in Ni[subscript 3]Al increases with compactness because the thermal spike cooling rate, which determines the time available for thermal disordering, decreases with compactness. On the other hand, Frenkel pair production is inversely correlated to compactness because longer thermal spike lifetimes enhance vacancy–interstitial recombination

Planar-lens Enabled Beam Steering for Chip-scale LIDAR

© 2018 OSA. A lens-enabled chip-scale beam steering device for LIDAR is theoretically analyzed and experimentally demonstrated with azimuthal, φrange = 38.8°, and polar, θrange = 12.0°, beam-steering. The device allows for beam-steering at low power and low cost