Observation of localized modes at effective gauge field interface in synthetic mesh lattice

We predict a generic mechanism of wave localization at an interface between uniform artificial gauge fields, arising due to propagation-dependent phase accumulation similar to Aharonov-Bohm phenomenon. We realize experimentally a synthetic mesh lattice with real-time control over the vector gauge field, and observe robust localization under a broad variation of gauge strength and direction, as well as structural lattice parameters. This suggests new possibilities for confining and guiding waves in diverse physical systems through the synthetic gauge fields.