Topology of multiple cross-linked Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains

Abstract

In polymer science, cross-linking of polymer chains yields a substantially modified system compared to the one-dimensional constituent chains, due to the increase of dimensionality and effective seeding by defects (cross-linking sites). Inspired by this concept, we analyze topological features of a unit cell of a generalized topological mesh comprised of several one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) lattices cross-linked via a single site. The coupling site functions as a defect with protected states in the trivial regime and also induces edges inside the bulk with protected localized states centered around it in the topological regime. When more than two lattices are coupled by the defect, namely, a graph-dimensionality larger than one, the crossed chains support two types of localized eigenstates around the defect. One type is highly controllable by modifying the cross-linking strength, enabling broad tuning of eigenenergies from being submerged in the bulk band to becoming highly isolated and protected. We show that these unique features can be explained by an equivalence of the aforementioned system to an SSH chain coupled nonreciprocally to an external reservoir, yielding a unique pseudospectrum for both the bulk and localized states, with spatially symmetric eigenstates. Applying non-Hermiticity by adding gain and loss to alternating sites, relevant for example to a possible realization of topological coupled-laser fabric, we observe an abrupt transition of the topologically protected mid-gap state from anti-localized to localized near the defect. By changing the gain-loss parameters, we observe a cascaded spatial symmetry breaking of the supported states at exceptional points where parity-time symmetry is broken, for both the localized and the bulk states, exhibiting various novel phases.

20 pages, 13 figures Reorganized paper and added robustness analysis for non-Hermitian setting, final version

References in corpus (22)

• Topological Origin of Non-Hermitian Skin Effects
• Efficient Light Funneling based on the non-Hermitian Skin Effect
• Selective enhancement of topologically induced interface states in a dielectric resonator chain
• Topological phases in the non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model
• Topological Transition in a Non-Hermitian Quantum Walk
• Novel Topological Phase with Zero Berry Curvature
• Topological phase transition in non-Hermitian quasicrystals
• Universal non-Hermitian skin effect in two and higher dimensions
• Exponentially Fragile PT-Symmetry in Lattices with Localized Eigenmodes
• Topological defect engineering and PT-symmetry in non-Hermitian electrical circuits
• Topological collective plasmons in bipartite chains of metallic nanoparticles
• Topological states in non-Hermitian two-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model
• Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain with one pair of PT-symmetric defects
• Quasi-bound states in continuum
• Finite-size effects in non-Hermitian topological systems
• Non-Hermitian engineering of single mode two dimensional laser arrays
• Nonanalytic enhancement of the charge transfer from adatom to one-dimensional semiconductor superlattice and optical absorption spectrum
• Fate of zero modes in a finite Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Model with $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ Symmetry
• Topological features of ground states and topological solitons in generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger models using generalized time-reversal, particle-hole, and chiral symmetries
• Reservoir-assisted symmetry breaking and coalesced zero-energy modes in an open PT-symmetric Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model
• Topological two-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger analogue acoustic networks: Total reflection at corners and corner induced modes
• Exciton-Polariton scattering for defect detection in cold atom Optical Lattices

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Quadratic pseudospectrum for identifying localized states
• Cataloging topological phases of $N$-stacked Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains by a systematic breaking of symmetries
• Topological solitons in coupled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger waveguide arrays
• Topological properties of a class of generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger networks: chains and meshes
• Emergent topological phases in an extended Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model with Rashba spin-orbit interaction, higher order hopping and domain wall
• Flat bands and topological phase transition in entangled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains
• Rhombohedral graphite junctions as a platform for continuous tuning between topologically trivial and non-trivial electronic phases
• Vortex solitons in star networks