Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Achieving topologically-protected robust transport in optical systems has recently been of great interest. Most studied topological photonic structures can be understood by solving the eigenvalue problem of Maxwell's equations for static linear systems. Here, we extend topological phases into dynamically driven systems and achieve a Floquet Chern insulator of light in nonlinear photonic crystals (PhCs). Specifically, we start by presenting the Floquet eigenvalue problem in driven two-dimensional PhCs. We then define topological invariant associated with Floquet bands, and show that topological band gaps with non-zero Chern number can be opened by breaking time-reversal symmetry through the driving field. Finally, we numerically demonstrate the existence of chiral edge states at the interfaces between a Floquet Chern insulator and normal insulators, where the transport is non-reciprocal and uni-directional. Our work paves the way to further exploring topological phases in driven optical systems and their optoelectronic applications.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Li He, Zachariah Addison, Jicheng Jin, Eugene J. Mele, Steven G. Johnson, Bo Zhen
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,200
Awards: G1051554911, G1461678227, G1523888516, G155958390, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G1860077899, G2526090571, TAS::57 3600::TAS '(YIP) NON-HERMITIAN TOPOLOGICAL PHOTONICS', INSTITUTE FOR NUCLEAR THEORY, G3491862500, G4965623377, G584641232, G6274897657, EAGER: Enabling Quantum Leap: Exceptional-point Topological Polaritonics for Room-temperature Quantum Logic, G7452299184, G8727049869
OpenAlex ID: W2916660055