Nonreciprocal Radiation in Time-Periodic Topological Quadrupole Lattices

Abstract

We realize a time-periodic quadrupole higher-order topological lattice and demonstrate its nonreciprocal radiation. A relative phase between two modulated coupling channels acts as a synthetic gauge field that breaks time-reversal symmetry without closing the bulk gap, and a numerical Floquet analysis finds that zero-quasienergy corner modes persist. With the corners coupled to free space, a signal injected at one corner is up-converted to the first Floquet sideband and radiated, and a free-space wave at that sideband is delivered preferentially to a second corner, with more than 21 dB contrast relative to the first, combining frequency conversion with nonreciprocal routing. The same radiated frequency is reached with modulation frequencies differing by more than an order of magnitude.