Photonic skin-topological effects in microring lattices

We investigate the non-Hermitian Hofstadter–Harper model composed of microring resonators, in which the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) is particularly analyzed. The effect is achieved through the interaction between well-designed gain–loss layouts and artificial gauge fields. Remarkably, we reveal the emergence of a hybrid skin-topological effect (HSTE), where only the original topological edge modes convert to skin modes while bulk modes remain extended. By changing the distributions of gauge fields, we show the NHSE can manifest itself in bulk modes and be localized at specific edges. Using the equivalence of sites in the bulk or at boundaries to 1D SSH chains, we analyze the potential cancellation of NHSE in these configurations. Additionally, we demonstrate a new, to the best of our knowledge, type of HSTE in topological insulators which emerge at any gain–loss interfaces. The study may improve the understanding of the NHSE behavior in 2D topological systems and provide a promising avenue for tuning light propagation and localization.