Symmetry breaking and band gap opening in lateral metallic nanopatterns

Authors

1 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, E-11884, Cairo, Egypt

2 Basic Science Department, Modern Academy for Engineering and Technology, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The ability to control wave propagation at band gap energies is crucial for various technological applications such as nanophotonics (light gaps), phononics (acoustic gaps), and electronics (electron gaps) among others. In this manuscript, we shall analyze how symmetry influences the electronic band structure of nanoscale lateral metallic superlattices, particularly at high symmetry points, utilizing the electron plane wave expansion (EPWE) method. By combining electronic band structures, photoemission constant energy surface, and two-dimensional local density of states calculations, we demonstrate the band gap opening observed at the -points within the surface Brillouin zone originating from the symmetry breaking in the wave vector group, consistent with earlier literature. While the -point degeneracy for superlattices with P6mm and P31m symmetries are protected, superlattices with lower symmetries, such as to P3m1 and P3, exhibit clear -point gaps. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the here reported symmetry effect is identical for the TM-mode photonic crystals of the same symmetries. These findings pave the way towards engineering the electronic structures in patterned metal surfaces for on-demand applications.

Keywords

Al-Azhar Bulletin of Science
Volume 2024, Issue 1
January and February 2024

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