Topological Photonics

TL;DR

Topological photonics explores how topological principles enable robust light propagation in complex structures, leading to new optical devices that are immune to imperfections and disorder.

Contribution

This review synthesizes recent advances in topological photonics, highlighting new theoretical insights and experimental demonstrations across various photonic platforms.

Findings

Development of topological insulator-inspired optical structures

Demonstration of back-reflection-free light propagation

Potential for robust optical communication and devices

Abstract

Topology is revolutionizing photonics, bringing with it new theoretical discoveries and a wealth of potential applications. This field was inspired by the discovery of topological insulators, in which interfacial electrons transport without dissipation even in the presence of impurities. Similarly, new optical mirrors of different wave-vector space topologies have been constructed to support new states of light propagating at their interfaces. These novel waveguides allow light to flow around large imperfections without back-reflection. The present review explains the underlying principles and highlights the major findings in photonic crystals, coupled resonators, metamaterials and quasicrystals.