Roadmap on Topological Photonics

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of topological photonics, highlighting recent advances, fundamental scientific questions, and future research opportunities in designing robust photonic devices using topological modes.

Contribution

It offers a detailed survey of emerging research areas in topological photonics, emphasizing fundamental science and future challenges.

Findings

Identification of key challenges in topological photonics

Potential applications in robust photonic devices

Future research directions outlined for the field

Abstract

Topological photonics seeks to control the behaviour of the light through the design of protected topological modes in photonic structures. While this approach originated from studying the behaviour of electrons in solid-state materials, it has since blossomed into a field that is at the very forefront of the search for new topological types of matter. This can have real implications for future technologies by harnessing the robustness of topological photonics for applications in photonics devices. This Roadmap surveys some of the main emerging areas of research within topological photonics, with a special attention to questions in fundamental science, which photonics is in an ideal position to address. Each section provides an overview of the current and future challenges within a part of the field, highlighting the most exciting opportunities for future research and developments.