Dimensional Synthesis for Emulating Nonlinear Disclination Dynamics

ABSTRACT Nonlinearity plays a central role in topological defect states, governing their stability, localization, and dynamics beyond the linear regime. However, investigating nonlinear dynamics of states in three‐ and higher‐dimensional systems remains highly challenging due to fabrication difficulties and the constraints imposed by spatial dimensionality. Here, we overcome this limitation by employing one‐dimensional synthesized lattices (1DSLs). Using anchor‐site and anchor‐mode mappings, we demonstrate that 1DSLs provide a versatile one‐dimensional platform for emulating the essential nonlinear dynamics and mode‐coupling pathways of disclination states in higher‐dimensional topological lattices. We show that different disclination states exhibit distinct nonlinear dynamics and mode‐coupling pathways, all of which are faithfully reproduced in the mapped 1DSLs. In particular, corner and disclination states exhibit fundamentally different nonlinear coupling mechanisms, whereas three‐dimensional disclination lattices support additional interactions between different classes of defect states. Our work extends dimensional synthesis beyond linear emulation and establishes a practical one‐dimensional platform for investigating nonlinear topological defect physics in higher dimensions. More broadly, it provides a route for exploring nonlinear topological phenomena that are otherwise difficult to access in higher‐dimensional photonic, acoustic, and mechanical wave systems.