Limits of topological protection under local periodic driving

Understand

The bulk-edge correspondence guarantees that the interface between two topologically distinct insulators supports at least one topological edge state that is robust against static perturbations.

• Here, we address the question of how dynamic perturbations of the interface affect the robustness of edge states.
• We illuminate the limits of topological protection for Floquet systems in the special case of a static bulk.
• We use two independent dynamic quantum simulators based on coupled plasmonic and dielectric photonic waveguides to implement the topological Su-Schriefer-Heeger model with convenient control of the full space- and time-dependence of the Hamiltonian.