Propagation of waves in high Brillouin zones: Chaotic branched flow and stable superwires

We report unexpected classical and quantum dynamics of a wave propagating in a periodic potential in high Brillouin zones. Branched flow appears at wavelengths shorter than the typical length scale of the ordered periodic structure and for energies above the potential barrier. The strongest branches...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2021-10, Vol.118 (40), p.1-7
Main Authors: Daza, Alvar, Heller, Eric J., Graf, Anton M., Räsänen, Esa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brillouin zones
Dynamic stability
Periodic structures
Physical Sciences
Superlattices
Wave propagation
Wavelengths
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Summary:We report unexpected classical and quantum dynamics of a wave propagating in a periodic potential in high Brillouin zones. Branched flow appears at wavelengths shorter than the typical length scale of the ordered periodic structure and for energies above the potential barrier. The strongest branches remain stable indefinitely and may create linear dynamical channels, wherein waves are not confined directly by potential walls as electrons in ordinary wires but rather, indirectly and more subtly by dynamical stability. We term these superwires since they are associated with a superlattice.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2110285118