Non-diffracting states in one-dimensional Floquet photonic topological insulators

Abstract

One dimensional laser-written modulated photonic lattices are known to be particularly suitable for diffraction management purposes. Here, we address the connection between discrete non-diffracting states and topological properties in such devices through the experimental observation and identification of three classes of non-diffracting state. The first one corresponds to topologically protected edge states, recently predicted in Floquet topological insulators, while the second and third are both bulk modes. One of them testifies of a topological transition, although presenting topological features different from those of the edge states, whether the other one result from specific band structure engineering.