Brillouin super-cooling/heating in a non-Hermitian phononic dimer

Y Yicheng Zhu (State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) B Boyi Xue (State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) Y Yuncong Sun (State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) Q Qi Geng (State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) Y Yuping Chen X Xianfeng Chen (Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) X Xiaoshun Jiang (National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Science and School of Physics, Nanjing University) L Li Ge (Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York) W Wenjie Wan (State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

The ability to coherently manipulate phonons through light permits cooling and heating microscale quantum systems for various critical fields in metrology, information processing, and sensing. However, these physical systems often are hard to isolate and open for exchanging energy externally, making themselves non-Hermitian. Here, we experimentally observe a super-cooling/heating state in a non-Hermitian phononic dimer, where the two independent phonon modes of distinct cooling/heating rates become synchronous in cooling/heating. Such super cooling/heating is manifested in a Parity–Time symmetric state controlled by two counterpropagating optical pumps. These results reveal the non-Hermitian nature of the phonon dimer and illustrate a coherent technique for synchronous cooling/heating non-Hermitian systems, paving the way for practical applications in quantum sensing and metrology.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 20
Published May 20, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (9)

Y

Yicheng Zhu

State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

B

Boyi Xue

State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Y

Yuncong Sun

State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Q

Qi Geng

State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Y

Yuping Chen

X

Xianfeng Chen

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

X

Xiaoshun Jiang

National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Science and School of Physics, Nanjing University

L

Li Ge

Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York

W

Wenjie Wan

State Key Laboratory of Photonics and Communications, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University