Switching between topological edge states using phase-change materials
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Abstract
We introduce non-Hermitian plasmonic waveguide-cavity structures based on the Aubry-Andre-Harper model to realize switching between right and left topological edge states using the phase-change material germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST). The structure unit cells consist of a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguide side-coupled to MDM stub resonators with modulated distances between adjacent stubs. In such structures the modulated distances introduce an effective gauge magnetic field. We show that switching between the crystalline and amorphous phases of GST leads to a shift of the dispersion relation of the optimized structure so that a right topological edge state for the crystalline phase, and a left topological edge state for the amorphous phase occur at the same frequency. Thus, we realize switching between right and left topological edge states at that frequency by switching between the crystalline and amorphous phases of GST. Our results could be potentially important for developing compact reconfigurable topological photonic devices.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Recommended Citation
Veronis, G., Huang, Y., & Shen, Y. (2023). Switching between topological edge states using phase-change materials. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 12647 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677837