Asymmetric Cherenkov Emission in a Topological Plasmonic Waveguide

TL;DR

This paper explores how topologically nontrivial gyrotropic materials cause asymmetric Cherenkov emission, with emission characteristics strongly influenced by particle velocity and supported by unidirectional edge states, including in Weyl semi-metals.

Contribution

It demonstrates the influence of topological properties on Cherenkov emission, highlighting the role of unidirectional edge states in nonreciprocal materials.

Findings

Cherenkov emission is asymmetric due to nonreciprocal response.

Emission spectrum depends on particle velocity sign.

Unidirectional edge states dominate emission channels.

Abstract

Here, we investigate the Cherenkov emission by an array of moving electric charges in the vicinity of a topologically nontrivial gyrotropic material. It is shown that the nonreciprocal material response may result in a robustly asymmetric Cherenkov emission, such that the spectrum of the emitted radiation and the stopping power depend strongly on the sign of the particle velocity. It is demonstrated that the main emission channels are determined by the unidirectional edge states supported by the topological material. We consider as examples both magnetized plasmas and Weyl semi-metals. The latter may exhibit a spontaneous nonreciprocal response without a biasing magnetic field.