Topologically Protected Photonic Modes in Composite Quantum Hall/Quantum Spin Hall Waveguides

Abstract

Photonic topological systems, the electromagnetic analog of the topological materials in condensed matter physics, create many opportunities to design optical devices with novel properties. We present an experimental realization of the bi-anisotropic meta waveguide photonic system replicating both quantum Hall (QH) and quantum spin-Hall (QSH) topological insulating phases. With careful design, a composite QH-QSH photonic topological material is created and experimentally shown to support reflection-free edgemodes, a heterogeneous topological structure that is unprecedented in condensed matter physics. The effective spin degree of freedom of such topologically protected edgemodes determines their unique pathways through these systems, free from backscattering and able to travel around sharp corners. As an example of their novel properties, we experimentally demonstrate a 2-port isolator, a unique 3-port topological device, and a full 4-port circulator based on composite QH and QSH reflection-free waveguides.