Open AccessPropagation of waves in high Brillouin zones: Chaotic branched flow and stable superwires
Author(s) -
Álvar Daza,
Eric J. Heller,
Anton M. Graf,
E. Räsänen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2110285118
Subject(s) - brillouin zone , superlattice , physics , chaotic , wavelength , flow (mathematics) , electron , wave propagation , condensed matter physics , optics , mechanics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science
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.