Nonlinear Corner States in Topologically Nontrivial Kagome Lattice

TL;DR

This paper explores how strong nonlinearity affects corner states in a topologically nontrivial Kagome lattice, revealing stable high-amplitude localized states and their bifurcations, with potential applications in wave-based systems.

Contribution

It introduces the nonlinear continuation of corner and edge states in a HOTI Kagome lattice, demonstrating the emergence of stable high-amplitude corner states due to cubic nonlinearity.

Findings

Stable high-amplitude corner states exist due to nonlinearity.

Edge states can bifurcate into corner states through pitchfork bifurcations.

Unstable states dissipate energy into edges and bulk over time.

Abstract

We investigate a higher-order topological insulator (HOTI) under strong nonlinearity, focusing on the existence and stability of high-amplitude corner states, which can find applications in optics, acoustics, elastodynamics, and other wave-based systems. Our study centers on a breathing Kagome lattice composed of point masses and springs known to exhibit edge and corner states in its linear regime. By introducing onsite cubic nonlinearity, we analyze its impact on both edge and corner states. The nonlinear continuation of the corner state unveils stable high-amplitude corner states within the lattice, featuring non-zero displacements at even sites from the corner -- a characteristic absent in the linear limit. Interestingly, the nonlinear continuation of the edge state reveals its transformation into distinct families of high-amplitude corner states via two pitchfork bifurcations. While some states maintain stability, others become unstable through real instability and Neimark-Sacker bifurcation. These unstable corner states dissipate their energy into the edges and the bulk over an extended period, as corroborated by long-time dynamical simulations. Consequently, our study provides insights into achieving significant energy localization at the corners of HOTIs through various classes of nonlinear states.