Spectral imaging of topological edge states in plasmonic waveguide arrays (C2, C4)

Felix Bleckmann, Zlata Cherpakova, Stefan Linden, and Andrea Alberti:

Phys. Rev. B, 96, 045417 (2017)

🔓 arXiv:1612.01850 (2016)

We report on the observation of a topologically protected edge state at the interface between two topologically distinct domains of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, which we implement in arrays of evanescently coupled dielectric-loaded surface-plasmon polariton waveguides. Direct evidence of the topological character of the edge state is obtained through several independent experiments: Its spatial localization at the interface as well as the restriction to one sublattice is confirmed by real-space leakage radiation microscopy. The corresponding momentum-resolved spectrum obtained by Fourier imaging reveals the midgap position of the edge state as predicted by theory.