Topological Modes in One Dimensional Solids and Photonic Crystals

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that one-dimensional solids with time reversal symmetry possess a Z2 topological invariant that predicts edge states, confirmed through theoretical analysis and microwave photonic crystal experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a topological classification for 1D solids with time reversal symmetry and experimentally verifies the existence of edge states in a photonic crystal analogue.

Findings

Z2 topological invariant predicts edge states in 1D systems

Experimental confirmation in microwave photonic crystal

Theoretical framework for topological classification

Abstract

It is shown theoretically that a one-dimensional crystal with time reversal symmetry is characterized by a Z_{2} topological invariant that predicts the existence or otherwise of edge states. This is confirmed experimentally through the construction and simulation of a photonic crystal analogue in the microwave regime.