Nonlinear Topological Mechanics in Elliptically Geared Isostatic Metamaterials

Fangyuan Ma, Zheng Tang, Xiaotian Shi, Ying Wu, Jinkyu Yang, Di Zhou, Yugui Yao, and Feng Li

Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 046101 – Published 25 July 2023

Abstract

Despite the extensive studies of topological systems, the experimental characterizations of strongly nonlinear topological phases have been lagging. To address this shortcoming, we design and build elliptically geared isostatic metamaterials. Their nonlinear topological transitions can be realized by collective soliton motions, which stem from the transition of nonlinear Berry phase. Endowed by the intrinsic nonlinear topological mechanics, surface polar elasticity and dislocation-bound zero modes can be created or annihilated as the topological polarization reverses orientation. Our approach integrates topological physics with strongly nonlinear mechanics and promises multiphase structures at the micro- and macroscales.

Received 1 November 2022
Accepted 29 June 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.046101

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Classical mechanics Elasticity Phase transitions Topological phases of matter

Nonlinear DynamicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Fangyuan Ma ^1,*, Zheng Tang ^1,*, Xiaotian Shi², Ying Wu³, Jinkyu Yang^2,4, Di Zhou ^1,†, Yugui Yao¹, and Feng Li ^1,‡

¹Key Lab of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurement (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
²Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
³School of Science, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
⁴Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea

^*These authors contributed equally to this work.
^†dizhou@bit.edu.cn
^‡phlifeng@bit.edu.cn

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Issue

Vol. 131, Iss. 4 — 28 July 2023

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