Fractional quantum Hall states of photons in an array of dissipative coupled cavities

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical scheme to generate and detect strongly correlated photon states analogous to fractional quantum Hall states in a 2D array of nonlinear cavities under a strong artificial magnetic field, leveraging the non-equilibrium photon gas.

Contribution

It introduces an all-optical method to realize and observe fractional quantum Hall states of photons in dissipative cavity arrays, advancing quantum simulation capabilities.

Findings

Proposes a viable experimental scheme for photon Laughlin states

Analyzes collective optical responses in a 2D cavity array

Connects photon states with fractional quantum Hall physics

Abstract

We report a theoretical study of the collective optical response of a two-dimensional array of nonlinear cavities in the impenetrable photon regime under a strong artificial magnetic field. Taking advantage of the non-equilibrium nature of the photon gas, we propose an experimentally viable all-optical scheme to generate and detect strongly correlated photon states which are optical analogs of the Laughlin states of fractional quantum Hall physics.