Local resonance phononic band gaps in modifiedtwo-dimensional lattice materials

In this paper, modified two-dimensional peri- odic lattice materials with local resonance phononic band gaps are designed and investigated. The design concept is to introduce some auxiliary structures into conventional pe- riodic lattice materials. Elastic wave propagation in this kind of modified two-dimensional lattice materials is studied us- ing a combination of Bloch＇s theorem with finite element method. The calculated frequency band structures of illus- trative modified square lattice materials reveal the existence of frequency band gaps in the low frequency region due to the introduction of the auxiliary structures. The mechanism underlying the occurrence of these frequency band gaps is thoroughly discussed and natural resonances of the auxiliary structures are validated to be the origin. The effect of geo- metric parameters of the auxiliary structures on the width of the local resonance phononic band gaps is explored. Finally, a conceptual broadband vibration-insulating structure based on the modified lattice materials is designed and its capabil- ity is demonstrated. The present work is anticipated to be useful in designing structures which can insulate mechanical vibrations within desired frequency ranges.

Modification of the Hybridization Gap by Twisted Stacking of Quintuple Layers in a Three-Dimensional Topological Insulator Thin Film

Twisting the stacking of layered materials leads to rich new physics. A three-dimensional topological insulator film hosts two-dimensional gapless Dirac electrons on top and bottom surfaces, which, when the film is below some critical thickness, will hybridize and open a gap in the surface state structure. The hybridization gap can be tuned by various parameters such as film thickness and inversion symmetry, according to the literature. The three-dimensional strong topological insulator Bi(Sb)Se(Te) family has layered structures composed of quintuple layers(QLs) stacked together by van der Waals interaction. Here we successfully grow twistedly stacked Sb_2Te_3 QLs and investigate the effect of twist angels on the hybridization gaps below the thickness limit. It is found that the hybridization gap can be tuned for films of three QLs, which may lead to quantum spin Hall states.Signatures of gap-closing are found in 3-QL films. The successful in situ application of this approach opens a new route to search for exotic physics in topological insulators.