Tailoring edge and interface states in topological metastructures exhibiting the acoustic valley Hall effect

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the acoustic topological insulator or topological metastructure, where an acoustic wave can exist only in an edge or interface state instead of propagating in bulk. Breaking the structural symmetry enables the opening of the Dirac cone in the band structure and the generation of a new band gap, wherein a topological edge or interface state emerges. Further, we systematically analyze two types of topological states that stem from the acoustic valley Hall effect mechanism; one type is confined to the boundary, whereas the other type can be observed at the interface between two topologically different structures. Results denote that the selection of different boundaries along with appropriately designed interfaces provides the acoustic waves in the band gap range with abilities of one-way propagation, dual-channel propagation, immunity from back-scattering at sharp corners, and/or transition between propagation at interfaces and boundaries. Furthermore, we show that the acoustic wave propagation paths can be tailored in diverse and arbitrary ways by combing the two aforementioned types of topological states.