Higher-order topological phase of interacting photon pairs

TL;DR

This paper predicts and investigates a higher-order topological phase of entangled photon pairs caused by photon-photon interactions, demonstrating interaction-induced topological transitions in a two-dimensional quantum system.

Contribution

It introduces a novel higher-order topological phase for interacting photon pairs, expanding the understanding of topological phenomena in few-particle quantum systems.

Findings

Prediction of interaction-induced topological transitions

Feasibility with current experimental technology

Demonstration of higher-order topological phases in photon pairs

Abstract

Topological phases open a door to such intriguing phenomena as unidirectional propagation and disorder-resilient localization at a stable frequency. Recently discovered higher-order topological phases further extend the concept of topological protection enabling versatile control over localization in multiple dimensions. Motivated by the recent advances in quantum technologies such as large coherently operating qubit ensembles, we predict and investigate the higher-order topological phase of entangled photon pairs emerging due to the effective photon-photon interaction. Being feasible for state-of-the-art experimental capabilities, the designed model provides an interesting example of interaction-induced topological transitions in the few-particle two-dimensional system.