Recent advances in topological elastic metamaterials

Hongbo Huang; Jiujiu Chen; Shaoyong Huo

doi:10.1088/1361-648X/ac27d8

Recent advances in topological elastic metamaterials

J Phys Condens Matter. 2021 Oct 5;33(50). doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac27d8.

Authors

Hongbo Huang¹, Jiujiu Chen¹, Shaoyong Huo²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, People's Republic of China.
² College of Mechanical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 34534976
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac27d8

Abstract

Topological elastic metamaterials have emerged as a new frontier in the quest of topological phases in condensed matter physics. Their exotic topological properties open a wealth of promising engineering-oriented applications that are difficult to realize with traditional elastic metamaterials, such as robust and defect insensitive waveguiding, signal sensing, and splitting. In this review, we retrospectively examine the underlying physical concept of topologically ordered states of elastic waves, starting from the one-dimensional example based on the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. We then move on to two-dimensional topological metamaterials, discussing elastic analogues of quantum Hall, pseudospin-Hall, valley-Hall phases. Finally, we survey the latest developments in the field including three-dimensional elastic topological phases and higher-order topological insulators. Altogether, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the flourishing research frontier on topological elastic metamaterials, and highlights prominent future directions in this field.

Keywords: elastic metamaterials; elastic waves; topological insulators.

Publication types

Review