arXiv · 1602.00049
Three-Dimensional All-Dielectric Photonic Topological Insulator
Abstract
The discovery of two-dimensional topological photonic systems has transformed our views on electromagnetic propagation and scattering of classical waves, and a quest for similar states in three dimensions, known to exist in condensed matter systems, has been put forward. Here we demonstrate that symmetry protected three-dimensional topological states can be engineered in an all-dielectric platform with the electromagnetic duality between electric and magnetic fields ensured by the structure design. Magneto-electric coupling playing the role of a synthetic gauge field leads to a topological transition to an insulating regime with a complete three-dimensional photonic bandgap. An emergence of surface states with conical Dirac dispersion and spin-locking is unimpeded. Robust propagation of surface states along two-dimensional domain walls defined by the reversal of magneto-electric coupling is confirmed numerically by first principle studies. It is shown that the proposed system represents a table-top platform for emulating relativistic physics of massive Dirac fermions and the surface states revealed can be interpreted as Jackiw-Rebbi states confined to the interface between two domains with opposite particle masses.
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Alexey Slobozhanyuk, S. Hossein Mousavi, Xiang Ni, Daria Smirnova, Yuri S. Kivshar, Alexander B. Khanikaev. 2016-01-30. Three-Dimensional All-Dielectric Photonic Topological Insulator. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2016.253
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