Integrated optical entangled quantum vortex emitters
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Scanning vortex microscopy reveals thickness-dependent pinning nano-network in superconducting niobium films
The presence of quantum vortices determines the electromagnetic response of superconducting materials and devices. Controlling the motion of vortices and their pinning on intrinsic and artificial defects is therefore essential for further development of superconducting electronics. Here we take advantage of the attractive force between a magnetic tip of the Magnetic Force Microscope and a single quantum vortex to spatially map the pinning force inside 50–240 nm thick magnetron-sputtered niobium films, widely used in various applications. The revealed pinning nanonetwork is related to the thickness-dependent granular structure of the films as well as to the characteristic microscopic scales of superconductivity. Our approach is general and can be directly applied to other type-II granular superconducting materials and nanodevices.
Optical sorting: past, present and future
Optical sorting combines optical tweezers with diverse techniques, including optical spectrum, artificial intelligence (AI) and immunoassay, to endow unprecedented capabilities in particle sorting. In comparison to other methods such as microfluidics, acoustics and electrophoresis, optical sorting offers appreciable advantages in nanoscale precision, high resolution, non-invasiveness, and is becoming increasingly indispensable in fields of biophysics, chemistry, and materials science. This review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the history, development, and perspectives of various optical sorting techniques, categorised as passive and active sorting methods. To begin, we elucidate the fundamental physics and attributes of both conventional and exotic optical forces. We then explore sorting capabilities of active optical sorting, which fuses optical tweezers with a diversity of techniques, including Raman spectroscopy and machine learning. Afterwards, we reveal the essential roles played by deterministic light fields, configured with lens systems or metasurfaces, in the passive sorting of particles based on their varying sizes and shapes, sorting resolutions and speeds. We conclude with our vision of the most promising and futuristic directions, including AI-facilitated ultrafast and bio-morphology-selective sorting. It can be envisioned that optical sorting will inevitably become a revolutionary tool in scientific research and practical biomedical applications.
Composite vortex air laser
Structured air laser generated through establishing high-gain air media in a cavity-free scheme by intense ultrashort pulses is promising for optical manipulation and quantum communication at standoff distances. However, the mechanism how the orbital angular momentum (OAM) information can be entangled into strong-field-induced gain media is still controversial, making manipulation of the topological charges of structured air laser remain a challenge. Here, we report the realization of a composite vortex N2+ air laser with controllable OAM by manipulating the relative positions, polarization directions, and intensity ratio between a Gaussian-shaped pump and an external vortex seed. Numerical simulations reveal the essential role of the interference between self-seeded Gaussian-shaped and externally-seeded vortex lasing emissions in the topological charge transformation. Our findings not only shed light on the generation mechanism of vortex air lasers, but also open up avenues for quantum manipulation of structured light through strong-field laser ionization of molecules remotely.
Light-matter coupling via quantum pathways for spontaneous symmetry breaking in van der Waals antiferromagnetic semiconductors
Light-matter interaction simultaneously alters both the original material and incident light. Light not only reveals material details but also activates coupling mechanisms. The coupling has been demonstrated mechanically, for instance, through the patterning of metallic antennas, resulting in the emergence of plasmonic quasiparticles and enabling wavefront engineering of light via the generalized Snell’s law. However, quantum-mechanical light-matter interaction, wherein photons coherently excite distinct quantum pathways, remains poorly understood. Here, we report on quantum interference between light-induced quantum pathways through the orbital quantum levels and spin continuum. The quantum interference immediately breaks the symmetry of the hexagonal antiferromagnetic semiconductor FePS3. Below the Néel temperature, we observe the emergence of birefringence and linear dichroism, namely, quantum anisotropy due to quantum interference, which is further enhanced by the thickness effect. We explain the direct relevance of the quantum anisotropy to a quantum phase transition by spontaneous symmetry breaking in Mexican hat potential. Our findings suggest material modulation via selective quantum pathways through quantum light-matter interaction.
Diverse dynamics in interacting vortices systems through tunable conservative and non-conservative coupling strengths
Magnetic vortices are highly tunable, nonlinear systems with ideal properties for being applied in spin wave emission, data storage, and neuromorphic computing. However, their technological application is impaired by a limited understanding of non-conservative forces, that results in the open challenge of attaining precise control over vortex dynamics in coupled vortex systems. Here, we present an analytical model for the gyrotropic dynamics of coupled magnetic vortices within nano-pillar structures, revealing how conservative and non-conservative forces dictate their complex behavior. Validated by micromagnetic simulations, our model accurately predicts dynamic states, controllable through external current and magnetic field adjustments. The experimental verification in a fabricated nano-pillar device aligns with our predictions, and it showcases the system’s adaptability in dynamical coupling. The unique dynamical states, combined with the system’s tunability and inherent memory, make it an exemplary foundation for reservoir computing. This positions our discovery at the forefront of utilizing magnetic vortex dynamics for innovative computing solutions, marking a leap towards efficient data processing technologies.
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