Sensor Sensitivity Based on Exceptional Points Engineered via Synthetic Magnetism

An efficient mass sensor based on exceptional points (EPs), engineered under a synthetic magnetism requirement, is proposed. The benchmark system consists of an electromechanical (optomechanical) sys-tem where an electric (optical) field is driving two mechanical resonators that are mechanically coupled through a phase-dependent phonon hopping. This phase induces a series of EPs once it matches the condi-tion of pi/2(2n + 1). For any perturbation of the system, the phase-matched condition is no longer satisfied, and this lifts the EP degeneracies, leading to a frequency splitting that scales as the square root of the perturbation strength, resulting in a giant sensitivity-factor enhancement. Owing to the set of EPs, our proposal allows a multiple-sensing scheme and performs better than its anti -PT-symmetric sensor coun-terpart. This work sheds light on platforms that can be used for mass-sensing purposes, opening up new opportunities in nanoparticle or pollutant detection and in water treatment.

Automated summary

An efficient mass sensor based on exceptional points (EPs), engineered under a synthetic magnetism requirement, is proposed. By introducing a phase-dependent phonon hopping in an electromechanical (optomechanical) system, a series of EPs are induced once the phase matches the condition of pi/2(2n + 1). The presence of EPs lifts the degeneracies, resulting in a frequency splitting that enhances the sensitivity-factor of the sensor.