Three-dimensional photonic topological insulator without spin–orbit coupling

Minkyung Kim, Zihao Wang, Yihao Yang, Hau Tian Teo, Junsuk Rho () and Baile Zhang ()
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Minkyung Kim: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
Zihao Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Yihao Yang: Nanyang Technological University
Hau Tian Teo: Nanyang Technological University
Junsuk Rho: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
Baile Zhang: Nanyang Technological University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Spin–orbit coupling, a fundamental mechanism underlying topological insulators, has been introduced to construct the latter’s photonic analogs, or photonic topological insulators (PTIs). However, the intrinsic lack of electronic spin in photonic systems leads to various imperfections in emulating the behaviors of topological insulators. For example, in the recently demonstrated three-dimensional (3D) PTI, the topological surface states emerge, not on the surface of a single crystal as in a 3D topological insulator, but along an internal domain wall between two PTIs. Here, by fully abolishing spin–orbit coupling, we design and demonstrate a 3D PTI whose topological surface states are self-guided on its surface, without extra confinement by another PTI or any other cladding. The topological phase follows the original Fu’s model for the topological crystalline insulator without spin–orbit coupling. Unlike conventional linear Dirac cones, a unique quadratic dispersion of topological surface states is directly observed with microwave measurement. Our work opens routes to the topological manipulation of photons at the outer surface of photonic bandgap materials.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30909-0

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