Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems

Higher-order topological phases (HOTPs) possess localized and symmetry-protected eigenmodes at corners and along hinges in two- and three-dimensional lattices. The numbers of these topological boundary modes will undergo quantized changes at the critical points between different HOTPs. In this work,...

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Main Authors: Longwen Zhou, Rongtao Wang, Jiaxin Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-04-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023079
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author Longwen Zhou
Rongtao Wang
Jiaxin Pan
author_facet Longwen Zhou
Rongtao Wang
Jiaxin Pan
author_sort Longwen Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Higher-order topological phases (HOTPs) possess localized and symmetry-protected eigenmodes at corners and along hinges in two- and three-dimensional lattices. The numbers of these topological boundary modes will undergo quantized changes at the critical points between different HOTPs. In this work, we reveal unique higher-order topology induced by time-periodic driving at the critical points of topological phase transitions, which has no equilibrium counterparts and also goes beyond the description of gapped topological matter. Using an alternately coupled Creutz ladder and its Floquet-driven descendants as illustrative examples, we analytically characterize and numerically demonstrate the zero and π corner modes that could emerge at the critical points between different Floquet HOTPs. Moreover, we propose a unified scheme of bulk-corner correspondence for both gapless and gapped Floquet HOTPs protected by chiral symmetry in two dimensions. Our work reveals the possibility of corner modes surviving topological transitions in Floquet systems and initializes the study of higher-order Floquet topology at quantum criticality.
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spelling doaj-art-590a558ccec04fa58c54939ea1d691302025-08-20T03:13:25ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-04-017202307910.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023079Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systemsLongwen ZhouRongtao WangJiaxin PanHigher-order topological phases (HOTPs) possess localized and symmetry-protected eigenmodes at corners and along hinges in two- and three-dimensional lattices. The numbers of these topological boundary modes will undergo quantized changes at the critical points between different HOTPs. In this work, we reveal unique higher-order topology induced by time-periodic driving at the critical points of topological phase transitions, which has no equilibrium counterparts and also goes beyond the description of gapped topological matter. Using an alternately coupled Creutz ladder and its Floquet-driven descendants as illustrative examples, we analytically characterize and numerically demonstrate the zero and π corner modes that could emerge at the critical points between different Floquet HOTPs. Moreover, we propose a unified scheme of bulk-corner correspondence for both gapless and gapped Floquet HOTPs protected by chiral symmetry in two dimensions. Our work reveals the possibility of corner modes surviving topological transitions in Floquet systems and initializes the study of higher-order Floquet topology at quantum criticality.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023079
spellingShingle Longwen Zhou
Rongtao Wang
Jiaxin Pan
Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
Physical Review Research
title Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
title_full Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
title_fullStr Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
title_full_unstemmed Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
title_short Gapless higher-order topology and corner states in Floquet systems
title_sort gapless higher order topology and corner states in floquet systems
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023079
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AT rongtaowang gaplesshigherordertopologyandcornerstatesinfloquetsystems
AT jiaxinpan gaplesshigherordertopologyandcornerstatesinfloquetsystems