Switching between topological edge states in plasmonic systems using phase-change materials

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to switch between topological edge states in plasmonic systems by using phase-change materials, enabling reconfigurable topological photonic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a non-Hermitian plasmonic waveguide-cavity structure based on the Aubry-Andre-Harper model that switches topological edge states via phase changes in GST.

Findings

Switch between right and left topological edge states at the same frequency.

Switching is achieved by changing the phase of GST from crystalline to amorphous.

The structure's dispersion relation shifts to enable topological state switching.

Abstract

We introduce non-Hermitian plasmonic waveguide-cavity structures based on the Aubry-Andre-Harper model to realize switching between right and left topological edge states (TESs) using the phase-change material Ge$_2$Sb$_2$Te$_5$ (GST). We show that switching between the crystalline and amorphous phases of GST leads to a shift of the dispersion relation of the optimized structure so that a right TES for the crystalline phase, and a left TES for the amorphous phase occur at the same frequency. Thus, we realize switching between right and left TESs at that frequency by switching between the crystalline and amorphous phases of GST. Our results could be potentially important for developing compact reconfigurable topological photonic devices.