Topological Acoustic Metamaterials for Robust Wave Control

Topic description

Over the past decade, topology has reshaped our understanding of wave physics, extending far beyond condensed matter systems into photonics and acoustics. One of its most striking consequences is the existence of edge, surface, and corner states that remain robust in the presence of defects, disorder, or imperfections.

In acoustics, this conceptual framework is realized through phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials—engineered structures that enable exceptional control over the propagation of mechanical waves. Their macroscopic scale and experimental accessibility make them particularly well suited for investigating fundamental physical phenomena while simultaneously addressing practical challenges. Topological acoustic platforms have already demonstrated robust waveguiding and delay functionalities, and they hold strong promise for the development of phononic circuits resilient to fabrication tolerances. In elastodynamic systems, ...