Pseudo-spin–valley coupled edge states in a photonic topological insulator

Yuhao Kang, Xiang Ni, Xiaojun Cheng, Alexander B. Khanikaev () and Azriel Z. Genack ()
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Yuhao Kang: Queens College of the City University of New York
Xiang Ni: The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Xiaojun Cheng: Queens College of the City University of New York
Alexander B. Khanikaev: The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Azriel Z. Genack: Queens College of the City University of New York

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Pseudo-spin and valley degrees of freedom engineered in photonic analogues of topological insulators provide potential approaches to optical encoding and robust signal transport. Here we observe a ballistic edge state whose spin–valley indices are locked to the direction of propagation along the interface between a valley photonic crystal and a metacrystal emulating the quantum spin–Hall effect. We demonstrate the inhibition of inter-valley scattering at a Y-junction formed at the interfaces between photonic topological insulators carrying different spin–valley Chern numbers. These results open up the possibility of using the valley degree of freedom to control the flow of optical signals in 2D structures.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05408-w

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