Real- and Fourier-space observation of the anomalous $π$-mode in Floquet engineered plasmonic waveguide arrays

Abstract: We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of the driven Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model implemented by arrays of evanescently coupled plasmonic waveguides. Floquet theory predicts that this system hosts for suitable driving frequencies a topologically protected edge state that has no counterpart in static systems, the so-called anomalous Floquet topological $\pi$-mode. By using real- and Fourier-space leakage radiation microscopy in combination with edge- and bulk excitation, we unequivocally identify the anomalous Floquet topological $\pi$-mode and study its frequency dependence.