Coexistence of quantized and non-quantized geometric phases in quasi-one-dimensional systems without inversion symmetry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in certain quasi-one-dimensional systems without global inversion symmetry, hidden symmetries can lead to quantized geometric phases in specific subspaces, enabling topological states despite overall symmetry breaking.

Contribution

It reveals how hidden inversion symmetry in multi-degree-of-freedom systems can preserve quantized Zak phases and topological boundary states even without global inversion symmetry.

Findings

Hidden inversion symmetry leads to quantized Zak phases in subspaces.

Topological boundary states can exist without overall inversion symmetry.

The model applies to coupled optical or acoustic systems.

Abstract

It is well known that inversion symmetry in one-dimensional (1D) systems leads to the quantization of the geometric Zak phase to values of either 0 or {\pi}. When the system has particle-hole symmetry, this topological property ensures the existence of zero-energy interface states at the interface of two bulk systems carrying different Zak phases. In the absence of inversion symmetry, the Zak phase can take any value and the existence of interface states is not ensured. We show here that the situation is different when the unit cell contains multiple degrees of freedom and a hidden inversion symmetry exists in a subspace of the system. As an example, we consider a system of two Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chains coupled by a coupler chain. Although the introduction of coupler chain breaks the inversion symmetry of the system, a certain hidden inversion symmetry ensures the existence of a decoupled $2\times2$ SSH Hamiltonian in the subspace of the entire system and the two bands associated with this subspace have quantized Zak phases. These "quantized" bands in turn can provide topological boundary or interface states in such systems. Since the entire system has no inversion symmetry, the bulk-boundary correspondence may not hold exactly. The above is also true when next-nearest-neighbor hoppings are included. Our systems can be realized straightforwardly in systems such as coupled single-mode optical waveguides or coupled acoustic cavities.