Brillouin zone folding driven bound states in the continuum

Non-radiative bound states in the continuum (BICs) allow construction of resonant cavities with confined electromagnetic energy and high-quality (Q) factors. However, the sharp decay of the Q factor in the momentum space limits their usefulness for device applications. Here we demonstrate an approach to achieve sustainable ultrahigh Q factors by engineering Brillouin zone folding-induced BICs (BZF-BICs). All the guided modes are folded into the light cone through periodic perturbation that leads to the emergence of BZF-BICs possessing ultrahigh Q factors throughout the large, tunable momentum space. Unlike conventional BICs, BZF-BICs show perturbation-dependent dramatic enhancement of the Q factor in the entire momentum space and are robust against structural disorders. Our work provides a unique design path for BZF-BIC-based silicon metasurface cavities with extreme robustness against disorder while sustaining ultrahigh Q factors, offering potential applications in terahertz devices, nonlinear optics, quantum computing, and photonic integrated circuits. Periodic perturbations and guided mode engineering into Brillouin zone folding-induced bound states in the continuum resulted in ultrahigh Q factors that are both robust and sustainable across a broad range of tunable momentum space.

Automated summary

Non-radiative bound states in the continuum (BICs) can create resonant cavities with confined electromagnetic energy and high-quality (Q) factors. By folding all guided modes into the light cone through periodic perturbation, BZF-BICs with ultrahigh Q factors can be achieved in a large, tunable momentum space. Unlike conventional BICs, BZF-BICs show perturbation-dependent dramatic enhancement of the Q factor throughout the momentum space and are robust against structural disorders.