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Breaking the fundamental scattering limit with gain metasurfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Qian

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yi Yang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of Hong Kong)

  • Yifei Hua

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Chan Wang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Xiao Lin

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Tong Cai

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Dexin Ye

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Erping Li

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Ido Kaminer

    (Technion-Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Hongsheng Chen

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

Abstract

A long-held tenet in physics asserts that particles interacting with light suffer from a fundamental limit to their scattering cross section, referred to as the single-channel scattering limit. This notion, appearing in all one, two, and three dimensions, severely limits the interaction strength between all types of passive resonators and photonic environments and thus constrains a plethora of applications in bioimaging, sensing, and photovoltaics. Here, we propose a route to overcome this limit by exploiting gain media. We show that when an excited resonance is critically coupled to the desired scattering channel, an arbitrarily large scattering cross section can be achieved in principle. From a transient analysis, we explain the formation and relaxation of this phenomenon and compare it with the degeneracy-induced multi-channel superscattering, whose temporal behaviors have been usually overlooked. To experimentally test our predictions, we design a two-dimensional resonator encircled by gain metasurfaces incorporating negative- resistance components and demonstrate that the scattering cross section exceeds the single- channel limit by more than 40-fold. Our findings verify the possibility of stronger scattering beyond the fundamental scattering limit and herald a novel class of light-matter interactions enabled by gain metasurfaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Qian & Yi Yang & Yifei Hua & Chan Wang & Xiao Lin & Tong Cai & Dexin Ye & Erping Li & Ido Kaminer & Hongsheng Chen, 2022. "Breaking the fundamental scattering limit with gain metasurfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32067-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32067-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chao Qian & Zhedong Wang & Haoliang Qian & Tong Cai & Bin Zheng & Xiao Lin & Yichen Shen & Ido Kaminer & Erping Li & Hongsheng Chen, 2022. "Dynamic recognition and mirage using neuro-metamaterials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Ming Zhou & Lei Ying & Ling Lu & Lei Shi & Jian Zi & Zongfu Yu, 2017. "Electromagnetic scattering laws in Weyl systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Chia Wei Hsu & Bo Zhen & Wenjun Qiu & Ofer Shapira & Brendan G. DeLacy & John D. Joannopoulos & Marin Soljačić, 2014. "Transparent displays enabled by resonant nanoparticle scattering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-6, May.
    4. Dexin Ye & Kihun Chang & Lixin Ran & Hao Xin, 2014. "Microwave gain medium with negative refractive index," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adrià Canós Valero & Hadi K. Shamkhi & Anton S. Kupriianov & Thomas Weiss & Alexander A. Pavlov & Dmitrii Redka & Vjaceslavs Bobrovs & Yuri Kivshar & Alexander S. Shalin, 2023. "Superscattering emerging from the physics of bound states in the continuum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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