Single-particle edge state in a local-resonance-induced topological band gap

TL;DR

This paper introduces a topological mechanism in a modified SSH model that creates ultra-localized edge states at specific frequencies, combining topological protection with extreme spatial confinement in a one-dimensional metamaterial.

Contribution

It proposes a novel two-step process to generate topological local-resonance-induced band gaps with boundary-localized states in a 1D system, preserving topology without gap closure.

Findings

Topological edge state achieves perfect localization with inverse participation ratio of one.

The edge mode remains stable under boundary tuning despite disorder.

A new pathway for designing ultra-localized, topologically protected states at low frequencies.

Abstract

Topological metamaterials promise unprecedented wave control. Here, we theoretically and numerically investigate a one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) inspired stiffness dimer modified with a local resonator, which imparts a frequency-dependent effective stiffness to the unit cell. We demonstrate a two-step mechanism to create a topological local-resonance-induced band gap (LRG): first, a conventional Bragg-type band gap (BrG) is made topologically non-trivial via band inversion at a Dirac point; second, by tuning a dimerization parameter, the character of this non-trivial BrG is switched to that of an LRG via an intermediate flat band state. This process preserves the non-trivial topology without requiring gap closure within the LRG. Crucially, we find that when the resulting topological edge state intersects a characteristic frequency of the LRG -- specifically, an attenuation singularity where the effective stiffness vanishes -- it achieves extreme localization of vibrational energy. This state is confined to a single particle at the boundary, resulting in an inverse participation ratio of exactly unity, the theoretical limit for localization in a discrete system. Further, we demonstrate that while random disorder scatters the frequency of this mode, introducing tuned boundaries stabilizes the single-particle mode over a broad parameter range. Our findings provide a clear pathway to designing ultra-localized, topologically protected states in low-frequency regimes.