Work Experience:
Leader of Spin Nanophotonics Lab, Associate Professor (School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2021 - present)
Postdoctor (Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 2018 - 2021)
Education:
PhD (Peking University, 2012 - 2017)
B.S. (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2008 - 2012)
I. Spin-orbit interactions of light. We study - both theoretically and experimentally - the interplay between spin and angular momenta of light in different nanophotonic platforms, aiming to uncover new phenomena that arise from complex interactions or different symmetry.
1.1 Brownian spin-locking effect, a robust spin Hall effect of light from dynamical disorders. Brownian systems are characterized by spatiotemporal disorder, which arises from the erratic motion of particles driven by thermal fluctuations. When light interacts with such systems, it typically produces unpolarized and uncorrelated fields. Here we report the observation of a large-scale spin-locking effect of light within a Brownian medium. In an observation direction perpendicular to the incident wave’s momentum, scattering naturally divides into two diffusion regions, each associated with an opposite spin from the Brownian nanoparticles. This effect arises from the intrinsic spin–orbit interactions of scattering from individual nanoparticles, which ubiquitously generate radiative spin fields that propagate through the Brownian medium with multiple incoherent scattering. It offers an experimental platform for exploring macroscale spin behaviour of diffused light, with potential applications in precision metrology for measuring various nanoparticle properties. Our findings may inspire the study of analogous phenomena for different waves from unusual spin–orbit interactions in complex disordered systems. [Nature Materials; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02413-5]
1.2 We introduce quasi-symmetry groups in optics emerging from the commutation between mirror operation and the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) of light. Contrary to the principle of symmetry inheritance in free-space optics, where the symmetry of any structured field is strictly constrained by that of its source, we show that strong SOI enables quasi-symmetry-protected formation of meron lattices even when the underlying optical sources violate the nominal rotational symmetry. By analyzing the Hermiticity of the electric-dipole radiation amplitude in a circular polarization basis, we derive an effective mirror operator acting only on a subset of C3 polarized dipole emitters, forming a quasi-symmetry group that commutes with SOI. This quasi-symmetry guarantees exact C3 merons and gives rise to a robust polarization zone within which continuously varying input polarizations generate identical topological textures. Our work establishes quasi-symmetry as a new fundamental principle in optical physics and opens pathways to engineered topological structures of light beyond conventional symmetry constraints. [arXiv:2601.02675]
II. Spatial photonic Ising machines. Light-based simulator for complex XY spin interactions and solving quadratic unconstrained binary optimization problems.
2.1 Establish the coupling of Ising model in the momentum space of light. Spatial photonic Ising machines are inherently limited to all-to-all spin interactions, restricting their ability to model complex physical systems. To address this, we developed an optical spin model simulator that enables distance-dependent spin interactions by modulating light in momentum space. Using a laser beam and a phase-only spatial light modulator, the system reproduces complex magnetic states and topological phase transitions, enabling new possibilities for simulating spins and topological effects in physics and materials science. [Advanced Photonics 7(4), 046001(2025)]
2.2 Erdos-Turan Ising machines with arbitrary coupling precision. Ising machines have emerged as promising platforms for efficiently tackling a wide range of combinatorial optimization problems relevant to resource allocation, statistical inference and deep learning, yet their practical utility is fundamentally constrained by the coarse resolution of spin-spin couplings (Jij). Current implementations, relying on direct modulation of physical parameters, achieve at most 256 discrete coupling levels, which severely hinder the faithfully modeling of arbitrary real-valued interactions in realistic applications. Here we present a novel photonic Ising machine that encodes spins in random lattices while programming couplings in the momentum space of light. By introducing the Sidon set-a mathematical structure ensuring pairwise difference uniqueness - and employing the Erdos-Turan bound, we establish an optical framework in which each spin pair can be assigned a unique Jij. This approach decouples the resolution limit from hardware modulation to the spatial precision in the momentum space of light. Experimentally, we demonstrate a record-high coupling resolution of 7,038 on a simple photonic platform, surpassing previous Ising machines. Our results highlight the power of uniting discrete mathematics with momentum-space photonics, paving the way toward scalable Ising machines capable of faithfully modeling real-world optimization problems. [arXiv:2510.01998]
III. Nanophotonics (metasurfaces and photonic crystals). We design novel metasurfaces and photonic crystals with unique physical properties for potential applications in advanced light emission, manipulation, and detection.
3.1 We demonstrate a nearfield vortex dynamic within a supercell photonic crystal. By introducing paired rotations of triangular structures, we achieve high-quality-factor Bloch mode transition from evanescent valley modes, to quasi-bound states in the continuum, frustrated modes, and quasi-valleys. Each stage exhibits distinct nearfield vortex distributions, nonlinear overlap properties, and quality factors, revealing diverse physical behaviors for tailoring light-matter interaction. Notably, the asymmetric vortex configuration of frustrated modes enhances second harmonic generation, driven by an optimized nonlinear overlap factor. Our paired-rotation strategy offers a versatile design framework for creating supercell photonic crystals with unique nearfield vortex properties, presenting promising applications in lasing, nonlinear optics and optical forces. [Physical Review Letters 134, 243801 (2025)]
1. X Zhang#, P Chen#, M Li, Y Shi, E Hasman*, B Wang*, X Chen*, Brownian spin-locking effect, Nature Materials (2025).
2. X Ye#, G Wang#, X Duan*, Z Wang, Z Li, T Jia, T Li, L Yuan, B Wang*, X Chen*, Nearfield Vortex Dynamics of Supercell Bloch Modes, Physical Review Letters 134, 243801 (2025).
3. J Feng, Z Li, L Yuan, E Hasman, B Wang*, and X Chen, Spin Hamiltonians in the modulated momenta of light, Advanced Photonics 7(4), 046001(2025).
4. H Huang et. al., Optical Torques on Dielectric Spheres in a Spin‐Gradient Light Field, Laser & Photonics Reviews (2025).
5. Z Li, Z Hu, X Ye, Z Mao, J Feng, H Li, S Liu, B Wang, Y Zheng, X Chen, Enhanced second-harmonic generation in thin-film lithium niobate circular Bragg nanocavity, Nano Letters 24 (37), 11676-11682 (2024).
6. T Yuan, J Wu, X Wang, C Chen, H Li, B Wang, Y Chen, X Chen, Chip-scale nonlinear bandwidth enhancement via birefringent mode hybridization, Advanced Photonics 6 (5), 056012 (2024).
7. X Duan#, B Wang#, K Rong#, C Liu, V Gorovoy, S Mukherjee, V Kleiner, E Koren, E Hasman*, Valley-addressible monolayer lasing through spin-controlled Berry phase photonic cavities, Science 381, 1429-1432(2023)
8. C Lu#, B Wang#, X Fang, D Tsai, W Zhu, Q Song, X Deng, T He, X Gong, H Luo, Z Wang, X Dai*, Y Shi*, and X Cheng*, Nanoparticle deep-subwavelength dynamics empowered by optical meron-antimeron topology, Nano Letters 24 (1), 104-113 (2023).
9. K Rong, X Duan, B Wang, D Reichenberg, A Cohen, C Liu, P K. Mohapatra, A Patsha, V Gorovoy, S Mukherjee, V Kleiner, A Ismach, E Koren, E Hasman*; Spin-valley Rashba monolayer laser, Nature Materials 22, 1085-1093 (2023).
10. B Wang, K Rong, E Maguid, V Kleiner and E Hasman, Probing nanoscale fluctuation of ferromagnetic meta-atoms with a stochastic photonic spin Hall effect, Nature Nanotechnology 15, 450–456(2020)
11. K Rong#, B Wang#, A Reuven, E Maguid, B Cohn, V Kleiner, S Katznelson, E Koren and E Hasman, Photonic Rashba effect from quantum emitters mediated by a Berry phase defective photonic crystal, Nature Nanotechnology 15, 927-933 (2020).
12. B Wang#, E Maguid#, K Rong, M Yannai, V Kleiner, E Hasman, Photonic Topological Spin Hall Effect Mediated by Vortex Pairs, Physical Review Letters 123 (26), 266101 (2019).
13. B Wang#, F Dong#, QT Li, D Yang, C Sun, J Chen, Z Song, L Xu, W Chu, Y. Xiao, Q. Gong, Y. Li, Visible-frequency dielectric metasurfaces for multiwavelength achromatic and highly dispersive holograms, Nano Letters 16 (8), 5235-5240 (2016).
14. B Wang#, F Dong#, D Yang, Z Song, L Xu, W Chu, Q Gong, Y Li, Polarization-controlled color-tunable holograms with dielectric metasurfaces, Optica 4 (11), 1368-1371 (2017).
15. B Wang#, F Dong#, H Feng, D Yang, Z Song, L Xu, W Chu, Q Gong, and Y Li, Rochon-Prism-Like Planar Circularly Polarized Beam Splitters Based on Dielectric Metasurfaces, ACS Photonics 5 (5), 1660–1664 (2018).
16. B Wang, Y Li, MM Pan, JL Ren, YF Xiao, H Yang, Q Gong, Measuring spin Hall effect of light by cross-polarization intensity ratio, Optics Letters 39 (12), 3425-3428 (2014).
17. B Wang, Y Li, MM Pan, JL Ren, YF Xiao, H Yang, Q Gong, Spin displacements of a Gaussian beam at an air–multilayer-film interface, Physical Review A 88 (4), 043842 (2013).
18. JL Ren, B Wang, MM Pan, YF Xiao, Q Gong, Y Li, Spin separations in the spin Hall effect of light, Physical Review A 92 (1), 013839 (2015).
19. JL Ren, B Wang, YF Xiao, Q Gong, Y Li, Direct observation of a resolvable spin separation in the spin Hall effect of light at an air-glass interface, Applied Physics Letters 107 (11), 111105 (2015)
20. QT Li, F Dong, B Wang, F Gan, J Chen, Z Song, L Xu, W Chu, YF Xiao, Q. Gong, Y. Li, Polarization-independent and high-efficiency dielectric metasurfaces for visible light, Optics Express 24 (15), 16309-16319 (2016)
21. QT Li, F Dong, B Wang, W Chu, Q Gong, ML Brongersma, Y Li, Free-space optical beam tapping with an all-silica metasurface, ACS Photonics 4 (10), 2544-2549 (2017)
22. MM Pan, Y Li, JL Ren, B Wang, YF Xiao, H Yang, Q Gong, Impact of in-plane spread of wave vectors on spin Hall effect of light around Brewster's angle, Applied Physics Letters 103 (7), 071106 (2013)
23. F Dong, H Feng, L Xu, B Wang, Z Song, X Zhang, L Yan, X Li, Y Tian, W Wang, L Sun, Y Li, W Chu, Information Encoding with Optical Dielectric Metasurface via Independent Multichannels, ACS Photonics 6, 230–237 (2019)
24. Roadmap on structured waves (review)
25. Photonic spin Hall effect in Micro- and Nanophotonics (review)
Note: #equal contribution, *corresponding
PhotoniX (Associate Editor)
General physics (electromagnetism and optics, for undergraduate students)
Nano-optics (for graduate students)
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