Temperature sensor based on topological edge states in one-dimensional photonic crystals with a superconductor cavity

In this study, we investigate topological edge states (TES) arising at the interface of two distinct one-dimensional topological photonic crystals (1D-TPhCs) with a superconducting layer at the interface, designed for high-performance sensing. To investigate the optical properties and topological edge states of the proposed structure, both the transfer matrix method (TMM) and the finite element method (FEM) were used. The TES and the sensitivity induced by the proposed structure strongly depend on the thickness of the superconducting layer, the polarization of the waves, and the number of periods. The proposed structure exhibits exceptional performance, with a sensitivity S $=0.55$ nm/K, a quality factor Q $=1368.02$, and a figure of merit FOM $=0.4074$/K, making it a promising candidate for ultra-sensitive temperature detection in photonic sensor applications.