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PTX-symmetric metasurfaces for sensing applications

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Abstract

In this paper, we introduce an ultra-sensitive optical sensing platform based on the parity-time-reciprocal scaling (PTX)-symmetric non-Hermitian metasurfaces, which leverage exotic singularities, such as the exceptional point (EP) and the coherent perfect absorber-laser (CPAL) point, to significantly enhance the sensitivity and detectability of photonic sensors. We theoretically studied scattering properties and physical limitations of the PTX-symmetric metasurface sensing systems with an asymmetric, unbalanced gain-loss profile. The PTX-symmetric metasurfaces can exhibit similar scattering properties as their PT-symmetric counterparts at singular points, while achieving a higher sensitivity and a larger modulation depth, possible with the reciprocal-scaling factor (i.e., X transformation). Specifically, with the optimal reciprocal-scaling factor or near-zero phase offset, the proposed PTX-symmetric metasurface sensors operating around the EP or CPAL point may achieve an over 100 dB modulation depth, thus paving a promising route toward the detection of small-scale perturbations caused by, for example, molecular, gaseous, and biochemical surface adsorbates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

    Zhilu Ye, Minye Yang, Liang Zhu & Pai-Yen Chen

Authors
  1. Zhilu Ye
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  2. Minye Yang
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  3. Liang Zhu
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  4. Pai-Yen Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pai-Yen Chen.

Additional information

Zhilu Ye received the B.S degree in Microelectronics from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2018, and the master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University, USA, in 2019. Since then, she has been with University of Illinois at Chicago, USA, where she is pursing the Ph.D. degree. Her research interest includes RF and microwave sensors, wireless communication and wearable electronics.

Minye Yang completed the bachelor’s degree in Optical and Electronic Information from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2018, and received the M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Wayne State University, USA, in 2019. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His research focuses on ultrasensitive electromagnetic sensors, RF/microwave circuits.

Liang Zhu received the M.Sc. degree in Optics from Sun Yat-sen University, China, in 2015. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His research mainly focuses on RF/microwave antennas and circuits, energy harvesting platforms and wireless sensors.

Pai-Yen Chen (S’09, M’13, SM’17) is an Associate Professor in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. He received his Ph.D. degree from University of Texas at Austin, USA, in 2013. He has been involved in multidisciplinary research on applied electromagnetics, RF/microwave antennas and circuits, wireless micro/nanosensors and integrated systems, as well as nanoelectromagnetism in plasmonics and nanophotonics. He has received quite a few prestigious awards, including National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, IEEE Sensors Council Young Professional Award, IEEE Raj Mittra Travel Grant (RMTG) Award, SPIE Rising Researcher Award, ACES Early Career Award, PIERS Young Professional Award, Young Scientist Awards from URSI General Assembly and URSI Commission B: Electromagnetics, Air Force Research Laboratory Faculty Fellowship, National Argonne Laboratory Director’s Fellowship, College of Engineering Faculty Research Excellence Award, Donald Harrington Fellowship, United Microelectronics Corporation Scholarship, and quite a few student paper awards and travel grants from major IEEE conferences, including the USNC-URSI Ernest K. Smith Student Paper Award. He currently serves as Associate Editor of IEEE Sensors Journal, IEEE Journal of Radio Frequency Identification (IEEE JRFID), IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology (IEEE-JERM), and Guest Editor of several international journals. He was a former Associate Editor of Applied Electromagnetics.

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Ye, Z., Yang, M., Zhu, L. et al. PTX-symmetric metasurfaces for sensing applications. Front. Optoelectron. 14, 211–220 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-021-1204-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-021-1204-6

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