Phase-dependent topological interface state and spatial adiabatic passage in a generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model

Abstract

We extend the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model to include both an additional real intercell coupling and a complex intracell coupling whose phase can be interpreted as the Peierls phase associated with a synthetic gauge field. Using different Peierls phases, we can realize a heterostructure supporting a topologically protected interface state, depending on the existence of one trivial and two nontrivial phases of distinct winding numbers. The spatial adiabatic passage of this localized state from the inner interface to either open boundary can be attained simply by modulating the corresponding Peierls phase, while its decay or growth rate is controlled by the on-site parity-time symmetric loss and gain terms. Our results provide a scheme to achieve dynamical control of topologically protected states while being of potential interest to topological lasers with an adjustable spatial profile.