Topological kink plasmons on magnetic-domain boundaries

Two-dimensional topological materials bearing time reversal-breaking magnetic fields support protected one-way edge modes. Normally, these edge modes adhere to physical edges where material properties change abruptly. However, even in homogeneous materials, topology still permits a unique form of edge modes – kink modes – residing at the domain boundaries of magnetic fields within the materials. This scenario, despite being predicted in theory, has rarely been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we report our observation of topologically-protected high-frequency kink modes – kink magnetoplasmons (KMPs) – in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system. These KMPs arise at a domain boundary projected from an externally-patterned magnetic field onto a uniform 2DEG. They propagate unidirectionally along the boundary, protected by a difference of gap Chern numbers ( $$\pm1$$ ) in the two domains. They exhibit large tunability under an applied magnetic field or gate voltage, and clear signatures of nonreciprocity even under weak-coupling to evanescent photons. Topological kink modes are peculiar edge excitations that take place at domain boundaries of magnetic fields inside homogeneous materials. Here, the authors experimentally observe kink magnetoplasmons in a 2D electron gas using custom-shaped strong permanent magnets on top of a GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction.