Interface states in the rectangular lattice photonic crystals with identical dielectric rods

•An interface for interface states is constructed with identical dielectric rods.•The retainability is related to the positions of gaps or the Zak phases of bands.•The frequencies of interface states can be easily adjusted with the lattice. Interface states in photonic crystals (PCs) have attracted attention for the special properties, such as high transmission efficiency in bend waveguides, and their generation related to the topological phase. Previous works on interface states in PCs were mainly based on the square lattice, the honeycomb lattice or the triangular lattice, but with different materials, shapes, or sizes of rods resulting in the complicated structure. In this paper, an interface is constructed by two 2D PCs with different rectangular lattices, but the same materials, shapes, and sizes of dielectric rods, which generates interface states. The interface states are analyzed with respect to Zak phases and surface impedances. The retainability of the interface states in rectangular lattice PCs is investigated by studying the relationship between the length-width ratio of the rectangular lattice and the Zak phase. It is found that, when the interface states are generated by changing the length-width ratio of the rectangular lattice, the retainability of the interface states is related to the positions of the photonic bandgaps or the Zak phases of the bands. A more detailed examination indicates that these conclusions are applicable to the rectangular lattice PCs with other materials, shapes, and sizes of dielectric rods. These results can lead to new ways to generate interface states easily, with only one kind of dielectric rod. In addition, these outcomes may contribute to the understanding of the relationship between the geometry and the interface state.