Programmable integrated photonics for topological Hamiltonians

Area of Science:

• Topological photonics
• Integrated photonics
• Condensed matter physics

Background:

• Topological Hamiltonians in photonics enable novel discoveries and robust applications in lasing, sensing, and quantum technologies.
• Existing photonic platforms offer limited reconfigurability, restricting the implementation of diverse topological models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a reconfigurable integrated photonics platform capable of implementing various topological models.
• To showcase the platform's ability to realize both one-dimensional and higher-order topological Hamiltonians.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a reprogrammable integrated photonics platform comprising a hexagonal mesh of silicon Mach-Zehnder interferometers with phase shifters.
• Demonstrated the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) Hamiltonian to realize a localized topological edge mode.
• Implemented a higher-order topological insulator using a two-dimensional breathing Kagome Hamiltonian, exhibiting three corner states.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Hamiltonian with a distinct topological edge mode.
• Showcased a higher-order topological insulator featuring three localized corner states based on the Kagome lattice.
• Validated the reconfigurability of the integrated photonics platform for diverse topological model implementation.

Conclusions:

• The developed integrated photonics platform offers a nearly universal approach for realizing various topological models.
• This versatile platform is poised to accelerate research and development in topological photonics and other coupled systems.
• Highlights the potential for rapid prototyping and exploration of novel topological phenomena in a single, adaptable system.