Observation of spatiotemporal dynamics for topological surface states with on-demand dispersion

Dispersion management in guided wave optics is of vital importance for various applications. Topological photonics opens new horizons for manipulating unidirectional guided waves utilizing edge states. However, the experimental observation of spatiotemporal dynamics for guided waves with on-demand dispersion in topological photonic crystal is an important issue awaiting exploitation. Herein, we experimentally investigate the spatiotemporal properties of topological surface states with on-demand dispersion, where they are supported by a truncated valley photonic crystal with surface modulation. We observe the electromagnetic dynamics of surface states with typical dispersions, where dynamical trapping of an electromagnetic pulse mediated by the unidirectional surface state with flat dispersion and backward beam routing using reversed dispersion properties are achieved in photonic crystal slabs. Both numerical and experimental results substantiate the ultimate dispersion management for topological surface states, which could pave new ways for the manipulation of electromagnetic waves on the surface of photonic devices.