Topological Boundary Modes from Translational Deformations

Abstract

Localized states universally appear when a periodic potential is perturbed by defects or terminated at its surface. In this Letter, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a mechanism that generates localized states through continuous translational deformations of periodic potentials. We provide a rigorous proof of the emergence of the localized states under the deformations. The mechanism is experimentally verified in microwave photonic crystals. We also demonstrate topological phase windings of reflected waves for translated photonic crystals.