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Deterministic Double-Zero Media and Robust Wave Manipulation Using a Phononic Weyl Semimetal

Changqing Xu1,*,†, Jinjie Shi2,*, Xiaozhou Liu2, Ze-Guo Chen3,‡, Ying Wu4,§, and Yun Lai2,∥

  • 1Key Laboratory of State Manipulation and Advanced Materials in Provincial Universities, School of Physics and Technology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
  • 2MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, and Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • 3School of Materials Science and Intelligent Engineering, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
  • 4Division of Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE), and Division of Physical Science and Engineering (PSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: changqing.xu@nnu.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: zeguoc@nju.edu.cn
  • §Contact author: ying.wu@kaust.edu.sa
  • ∥Contact author: laiyun@nju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 046902 – Published 23 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/vzp2-6gns

Abstract

Double-zero media exhibit unparalleled impedance-independent wave manipulation properties. However, their reliance on accidental degeneracy makes them fragile to disturbances in structural geometry and material parameters. Here, we propose a topological approach to address this limitation. By constructing a Weyl semimetal with uniaxial screw symmetry, which exhibits a charge-2 Weyl point at the Brillouin zone center, we propose a deterministic directional double-zero medium characterized by linear dispersion along one direction and quadratic dispersion along the perpendicular directions, leading to impedance-independent total transmission and divergent impedance mismatch along different directions. By experimentally constructing this Weyl semimetal, we have observed the existence of a charge-2 Weyl point and its unique wave manipulation capabilities as directional double-zero media, including frequency-tunable wave collimation and a configurable transition between positive and negative refraction. These findings open new pathways for realizing topology-protected metamaterials with unprecedented capabilities for bulk-wave manipulation.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 046902– Published 23 July, 2025
  • Received 27 February 2025
  • Revised 3 June 2025
  • Accepted 24 June 2025
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