Topological Gaseous Plasmon Polariton in Realistic Plasma

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that gaseous plasmon polaritons in magnetized plasma possess a topological origin, enabling the existence of protected surface waves at plasma-vacuum boundaries, with implications for experimental plasma physics.

Contribution

It reveals the topological nature of gaseous plasmon polaritons and discusses their realization in realistic laboratory plasma conditions.

Findings

GPPs have a topological origin linked to plasma properties.

GPPs can exist within a gapped spectrum in current lab devices.

Experimental platforms for topological plasma waves are feasible.

Abstract

Nontrivial topology in bulk matter has been linked with the existence of topologically protected interfacial states. We show that a gaseous plasmon polariton (GPP), an electromagnetic surface wave existing at the boundary of magnetized plasma and vacuum, has a topological origin that arises from the nontrivial topology of magnetized plasma. Because a gaseous plasma cannot sustain a sharp interface with discontinuous density, one must consider a gradual density falloff with scale length comparable or longer than the wavelength of the wave. We show that the GPP may be found within a gapped spectrum in present-day laboratory devices, suggesting that platforms are currently available for experimental investigation of topological wave physics in plasmas.