Manipulation of photonic topological edge and corner states via trivial claddings

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wang, Hai-Xiao, Liang, Li, Shao, Shuai, Tang, Shiwei, Hu, Junhui, Poo, Yin, Jiang, Jian-Hua
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Wang, Hai-Xiao
Liang, Li
Shao, Shuai
Tang, Shiwei
Hu, Junhui
Poo, Yin
Jiang, Jian-Hua
author_facet Wang, Hai-Xiao
Liang, Li
Shao, Shuai
Tang, Shiwei
Hu, Junhui
Poo, Yin
Jiang, Jian-Hua
contents Crystalline symmetry offers a powerful tool to realize photonic topological phases, in which additional trivial claddings are typically required to confine topological boundary states. However, the utility of the trivial cladding in manipulating topological waves is often overlooked. Here, we demonstrate two topologically distinct kagome photonic crystals (KPCs) based on different crystalline symmetries: \mathbit{C}_\mathbf{6}- symmetric KPCs exhibit a quantum spin Hall phase, while \mathbit{C}_\mathbf{3}-symmetric KPCs serve as trivial cladding. By tuning the geometric parameter of the trivial cladding, we observe that a pair of topological interface states featured with pseudospin-momentum locking undergoes a phase transition, accompanied by the appearance and disappearance of corner states in a finite hexagonal supercell. Such a geometry-induced band inversion is characterized by a sign change in the Dirac mass of the topological interface states and holds potential for applications such as rainbow trapping. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the corner states, which is a hallmark of higher-order topology, also depend critically on the trivial cladding. Our work highlights the crucial role of trivial claddings on the formation of topological boundary states, and offers a novel approach for their manipulation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_18705
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Manipulation of photonic topological edge and corner states via trivial claddings
Wang, Hai-Xiao
Liang, Li
Shao, Shuai
Tang, Shiwei
Hu, Junhui
Poo, Yin
Jiang, Jian-Hua
Optics
Crystalline symmetry offers a powerful tool to realize photonic topological phases, in which additional trivial claddings are typically required to confine topological boundary states. However, the utility of the trivial cladding in manipulating topological waves is often overlooked. Here, we demonstrate two topologically distinct kagome photonic crystals (KPCs) based on different crystalline symmetries: \mathbit{C}_\mathbf{6}- symmetric KPCs exhibit a quantum spin Hall phase, while \mathbit{C}_\mathbf{3}-symmetric KPCs serve as trivial cladding. By tuning the geometric parameter of the trivial cladding, we observe that a pair of topological interface states featured with pseudospin-momentum locking undergoes a phase transition, accompanied by the appearance and disappearance of corner states in a finite hexagonal supercell. Such a geometry-induced band inversion is characterized by a sign change in the Dirac mass of the topological interface states and holds potential for applications such as rainbow trapping. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the corner states, which is a hallmark of higher-order topology, also depend critically on the trivial cladding. Our work highlights the crucial role of trivial claddings on the formation of topological boundary states, and offers a novel approach for their manipulation.
title Manipulation of photonic topological edge and corner states via trivial claddings
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.18705