Long-range hyperbolic polaritons on a non-hyperbolic crystal surface

Lu Liu, Langlang Xiong, Chongwu Wang, Yihua Bai, Weiliang Ma, Yupeng Wang, Peining Li, Guogang Li (), Qi Jie Wang (), Francisco J. Garcia-Vidal, Zhigao Dai () and Guangwei Hu ()
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Lu Liu: China University of Geosciences
Langlang Xiong: Nanyang Technological University
Chongwu Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Yihua Bai: Nanyang Technological University
Weiliang Ma: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yupeng Wang: China University of Geosciences
Peining Li: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Guogang Li: China University of Geosciences
Qi Jie Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Francisco J. Garcia-Vidal: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Zhigao Dai: China University of Geosciences
Guangwei Hu: Nanyang Technological University

Nature, 2025, vol. 644, issue 8075, 76-82

Abstract: Abstract Hybridized matter–photon excitations in hyperbolic crystals—anisotropic materials characterized by permittivity tensor components with opposite sign—have attracted substantial attention owing to their strong light–matter interactions in the form of hyperbolic polaritons1–3. However, these phenomena have been restricted to hyperbolic crystals, whose optical responses are confined to fixed spectral regions and lack tunability, thereby limiting their broader applicability4,5. Here we demonstrate the emergence of hyperbolic surface phonon polaritons in a non-hyperbolic yttrium vanadate (YVO4) crystal. Using real-space nanoimaging combined with theoretical analyses, we visualize hyperbolic wavefronts of surface phonon polaritons on YVO4 crystal surfaces within its non-hyperbolic frequency range, where the permittivity tensor components of the material have the same negative sign. Furthermore, by varying the temperature from room temperature to cryogenic levels, we realize in situ manipulation of polariton dispersions, enabling a topological transition from hyperbolic to canalization and eventually to the elliptic regime. This temperature-controlled dispersion engineering not only provides precise control over polariton topology but also modulates their wavelength and group velocity, showing remarkable sensitivity alongside low-loss, long-range propagation. These findings extend the realm of hyperbolic nano-optics by removing the reliance on hyperbolic crystals, unlocking opportunities for applications in negative refraction6–10, superlensing11,12, polaritonic chemistry13, integrated photonics14–16 and beyond.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09288-1

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