Topological creation and destruction of edge states in photonic graphene

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a topological transition of classical light in "photonic graphene": an array of waveguides arranged in the honeycomb geometry. As the system is uniaxially strained (compressed), the two unique Dirac points (present in the spectrum of conventional graphene) merge and annihilate each other, and a band gap forms. As a result, edge states are created on the zigzag edge and destroyed on the bearded edge. These results are applicable for any 2D honeycomb-type structure, from carbon-based graphene to photonic lattices and crystals.