Bound states in the continuum of infinite quality factor in finite unit cells

TL;DR

This paper develops a superposition-based theory to explain how finite gratings can support bound states in the continuum with very high Q-factors, and how boundary conditions influence their spectral properties.

Contribution

It introduces a new theoretical framework for understanding BICs in finite structures and demonstrates how boundary conditions and geometrical perturbations affect their Q-factors.

Findings

Bound states in the continuum can exist in finite gratings with perfect boundary reflection.

Geometrical perturbations convert dark BICs into bright quasi-BICs with finite Q-factors.

High reflectivity boundaries significantly increase the Q-factor, tunable by the number of unit cells.

Abstract

A theory based on the superposition principle is developed to uncover the basic physics of the wave behavior in a finite grating of N unit cells. The theory reveals that bound states in the continuum (BICs) of infinite quality factor (Q-factor) can be supported by such grating when the perfect reflection is introduced at its boundaries. If geometrical perturbations are introduced in the structure, the dark BICs transit to bright quasi-BICs of finite Q-factor, whose spectral behaviors are nearly the same as that of quasi-BICs supported by infinite gratings. When the boundaries are replaced with metallic mirrors of high reflectivity, the Q-factor of the resonant mode is reduced to be finite; however, it can be much larger than that in the corresponding nanostructure of open boundaries and can be tuned in a large range by varying the number of unit cells or boundary conditions.