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    Flatband via merging bound states in the continuum for ultraslow light and giant optical nonlinearity

    Zhendong Yan1,*, Shurui Fei1, Qiuchen Wu1, Zhaofu Qin2,†, Ping Gu3, and Jing Chen3

    • *Contact author: zdyan@njfu.edu.cn
    • †Contact author: zfqin@gxmzu.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. A 113, 063508 – Published 3 June, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/dv3q-89lp

    Abstract

    Optical modes exhibiting high quality Q factors and minimal dispersion in momentum space are crucial for enhancing light-matter interactions, including nonlinear optical processes and slow-light phenomena. Bound states in the continuum (BICs) represent a promising photonic platform owing to their theoretically infinite Q factors. However, for conventional individual BICs, the Q factor diminishes exponentially upon deviation from the BIC momentum singularity, and further enhancement of optical nonlinear conversion efficiency remains actively pursued. Here, we merge symmetry-protected and Friedrich-Wintgen BICs within a silicon metasurface to create a super-BIC to boost the Q factors of the associated quasi-BIC mode with ultraflatband dispersion and topological robustness. The ultraflat merging BIC exhibits a near-zero group velocity with a record group index of 5.0×108 and group delay of 8.9×105ps, surpassing conventional BICs by 2 orders of magnitude, which stems from the near-zero dispersion of the super-BIC-induced flatband. For nonlinear optics, the structure enhances the polarization-sensitive third- and fifth-harmonic generation efficiencies by 6 and 12 orders of magnitude, respectively, achieving conversions efficiencies of 9.6×10−3 (third-harmonic generation) and 1.8×10−10 (fifth-harmonic generation) at an ultralow pump density of 43mW/cm2. Notably, it maintains an average electric-field enhancement of 3.28×104 even under fabrication imperfections. This flatband design establishes a paradigm for robust light-matter interaction control, enabling applications in ultralow-power nonlinear photonics and on-chip slow-light devices.

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