如何实现光在纳米甚至原子尺度上的精准操控与高效传播，一直是科学研究的前沿问题。近日，来自上 海交通大学、国家纳米科学中心、东北师范大学与香港大学的联合研究团队，提出了一种名为"声子工 程"的新策略，首次实现了超宽频带、几乎无衍射的极化激元定向传播。相关研究成果15日发表于《自 然·纳米技术》杂志。 "我们不再是被动地寻找满足动量匹配的体系，而是主动'设计'出理想状态。"论文共同通讯作者、上海 交通大学副教授郭相东说，"这为制造超紧凑、高性能的光子电路打开了一扇全新的大门，也为纳米光 子学与集成光电子学的未来发展注入强大动力。" "'声子工程'调控策略不仅解决了极化激元控制中的关键技术瓶颈，还具有较强的通用性和灵活性。"戴 庆说，借助该技术，未来有望在指甲盖大小芯片上集成强大的光子电路，推动信息技术向更高速、更低 功耗、更高密度方向发展。 （文章来源：科技日报） 然而，要将这一潜力转化为现实，首先必须解决一个核心难题：如何对极化激元进行高效且灵活的控 制。目前，该操控过程面临两大技术瓶颈。论文共同通讯作者、上海交通大学教授戴庆告诉记者："首 先是需要非常精确的'动量匹配'，就像两列火车要完美同步才能对接；其次是 ...

Core Insights - Chinese scientists have made significant progress in the field of nanoscale light manipulation, achieving efficient excitation and path separation of nanoscale optical signals on chips, laying a solid foundation for the development of smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient next-generation photonic chips [1][2] Group 1: Research Achievements - Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National Center for Nanoscience have successfully published their findings in the journal Nature Photonics [1] - The study addresses the core bottleneck in developing next-generation information technology, which is the precise control of light propagation at the nanoscale [1] Group 2: Technical Innovations - The research highlights the importance of polarized surface plasmon polaritons, which can compress optical energy at the nanoscale, as a key tool for creating ultra-compact photonic devices [1] - High-order hyperbolic phonon polaritons have a stronger ability to confine light fields compared to ordinary polaritons, making them particularly suitable for manufacturing more compact nanoscale devices [1] Group 3: Methodology - The researchers proposed a "two-step" excitation strategy to overcome the high excitation threshold of high-order polaritons: first, using a specially designed metallic antenna to convert a standard laser into a fundamental mode of nanoscale light wave; second, allowing this light wave to pass through a smooth gold boundary to scatter and convert it into the desired high-order light wave [1] Group 4: Practical Applications - The method enables long-distance, low-loss transmission of high-order light waves at room temperature and allows for routing of optical signals at the nanoscale through clever structural design [2]

Core Insights - A significant research breakthrough in the field of nano-photonic device interconnection has been published in the journal Nature Materials, addressing the challenge of efficient light signal transmission across different structures [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology have successfully utilized a "wake" effect, akin to that produced by ships, to solve the problem of light signal transmission in nano-photonic devices [1] - The study highlights the potential of surface plasmon polaritons, which can compress light at the nanoscale and enhance the optical field, but face challenges in transmission due to rapid decay [1][2] - By combining the strong focusing ability of surface plasmon polaritons with the directional propagation characteristics of leaky waves, a new type of optical wave mode resembling "ship wake" was created in special layered materials [1] Group 2: Implications and Applications - The research indicates that the newly developed "light wake" allows for controlled transmission of light waves across different material structures, significantly enhancing the integration of nano-photonic devices [2] - Further studies revealed that by rotating the material layers, the direction, shape, and propagation speed of the "light wake" can be modulated, paving the way for practical applications in optical computing and high-speed information processing [2]