Topological interface modes in systems with damping (Q6939631)

The work at hand utilizes the theory of topological interface modes to address the problem of mirror systems with damping. The main theoretical result is Theorem 2.1 / 6.4, that states that if the interface impedance function has a real root (i.e., an undamped interface mode) for the real-valued material, then under small damping the root persists and moves continuously into the complex plane. The proof uses Rouché's theorem from complex analysis to track the zeros of the analytic impedance function. In particular, it is shown that each real interface eigenfrequency of the undamped problem has a nearby complex continuation; thus, localized modes survive under small damping.\N\NThen, the authors utilize a transfer matrix formulation to describe propagation through periodic cells, the authors derive decay estimates for localized modes via the eigenvalues of the transfer matrices, showing that the eigenmodes decay exponentially at rates of the eigenvalues of the associated T-Matrix, which is consistent with band-gap localization. Subsequently, numerical simulations for mirror-symmetric layered media are conducted that showcase the persistence of interface eigenmodes for increased damping values alongside band-gap deformation occuring with the complex-valued spectra.\N\NThe contributions of this article consists in the extention of the bulk-edge correspondence and impedance theory to the non-Hermitian regime, which is relevant for realistic materials with damping, the employment of Rouché's theorem for treating the zero-continuation in analytic functions and in the derivation of explicit results related to the asymptotic decay with the help of the transfer-matrix formalism.