Protected Transverse Electric Waves in Topological Dielectric Waveguides

Waveguides are fundamental components in communication systems. However, they suffer from reflection and scattering losses at sharp routes or defects. The breakthrough in developing topological photonic crystals (PhCs) provides promising solutions to robust signal transmission. In this work, we propose a new mechanism for protecting wave-guiding modes by decorating the boundaries of a conventional waveguide with valley-Hall PhCs. This special layout enables the robust propagation of conventional transverse electric (TE) waves against defects and bends. Moreover, the proposed waveguide is compatible with the substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW). High-efficient mode conversion from the SIW to the proposed waveguide is achievable. By leveraging the idea of topology to conventional waveguides, we provide a powerful and practical tool that can largely improve the performance of microwave and millimeter-wave integrated circuits while reserving the features of wave-guiding modes.