Vectorial Bulk‐Boundary Correspondence for 3D Photonic Chern Insulators
Abstract
In 2D Chern insulators, the topology of the bulk states is captured by a topological invariant, the Chern number. The scalar bulk‐boundary correspondence (sBBC) relates the change in Chern number across an interface with the number of 1D chiral edge modes at the interface. However, 3D Chern insulators (3D CIs) can be characterized by a Chern vector and a more general vector bulk‐boundary correspondence (vBBC) is needed to correctly predict the propagation of the surface modes. In this work the possible interfaces between 3D photonic CIs are explored, focusing on possible changes in Chern vector orientation. To formulate a 3D vBBC, a link is derived between the Chern vector discontinuity across an interface and the winding of the surface equifrequency loops on the boundary. Last, it is demonstrated how to correctly predict the number and the propagation direction of topological photonic surface modes in 3D CIs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adom.202200475
Entities
People
- Aitzol García-Etxarri
- Barry Bradlyn
- Chiara Devescovi
- Juan L. Mañes
- Maia G. Vergniory
- Mikel García‐díez
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Basque Government
- Donostia International Physics Center
- Ikerbasque
- Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
- University of the Basque Country