Work

Chirality-controlled conjugate complex-gradient differentiation at a reciprocal photonic Weyl interface

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate chirality-controlled complex-gradient differentiation at a reciprocal chiral photonic Weyl interface using Maxwell boundary conditions and angular-spectrum theory. Reversing the enantiomeric parameter χ = ±1 leaves co-polarized reflection unchanged while reversing cross-polarized amplitudes. For p -polarized incidence, a chirality-matched elliptical analyzer suppresses the zeroth-order specular field and isolates a first-order dark-port response. At the balanced operating point, the normalized transfer function approaches H ¯ χ ≃ k x / k 0 − i χ k y / k 0 , where k x and k y are transverse spectral components and k 0 is the vacuum wavenumber. The two enantiomers therefore exhibit nearly identical magnitude responses but opposite phase winding. Fourier-optics calculations confirm annular Gaussian-beam responses and nearly chirality-invariant two-dimensional edge intensities with reversed phase circulation. Material chirality thus controls the handedness of the complex differential operator.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.614215

Authors: Wenhao Xu, Yan Wang, Huiling Luo, Shiyang Zhang, Lan Xu

Institutions: Hunan First Normal University, Hunan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department