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Reconfigurable Chiral Edge States in Synthetic Dimensions on an Integrated Photonic Chip
Weiwei Liu1, Xiaolong Su1, Chijun Li1
1Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Physics, Wuhan 430074, China.
Physical Review Letters
|April 25, 2025
Summary
Researchers created a programmable photonic chip to control chiral edge states in synthetic dimensions. This breakthrough enables flexible manipulation of topological physics for advanced computing and communication applications.
Area of Science:
- Topological physics
- Integrated photonics
- Synthetic dimensions
Background:
- Chiral edge states are key in topological physics.
- Synthetic dimensions offer advantages over real space for studying topology.
- Previous systems for chiral topology were complex and inflexible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a programmable integrated photonic platform for reconfigurable chiral edge states.
- To explore chiral topology in synthetic dimensions using a single microring resonator.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a lithium niobate microring resonator with independent frequency and pseudospin degrees of freedom.
- Integrated tunable artificial gauge potentials and long-range couplings.
- Dynamically modulated the resonator to achieve reconfigurable chiral behaviors.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated and manipulated reconfigurable chiral edge states in synthetic dimensions.
- Demonstrated chiral edge states in a synthetic Hall ladder, including realization and frustration.
- Generated imbalanced chiral edge currents and regulated chiral behaviors (chirality, pseudospin enhancement, suppression).
Conclusions:
- The programmable photonic chip enables exploration of high-dimensional synthetic space for chiral edge states.
- This platform shows potential for applications in optical communications, quantum simulations, signal processing, and photonic neuromorphic computing.
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