Continuum damping of topologically-protected edge modes at the boundary of a magnetized plasma

Abstract

Recent extension of the topological ideas to continuous systems with broken time-reversal symmetry, such as magnetized plasmas, provides new insights into the nature of scattering-free topologically-protected surface plasma waves (TSPWs). We demonstrate a unique characteristic of TSPWs propagating above the electron cyclotron frequency: their collisionless damping via coupling to the continuum of resonant modes localized inside a smooth plasma-vacuum interface. Damped TSPWs retain their unidirectional nature and robustness against backscattering. When sheared magnetic field creates a boundary between damped and undamped TSPWs, the two refract into each other without reflections