Programmable Integrated Photonics for Topological Hamiltonians

TL;DR

This paper introduces a reprogrammable integrated photonics platform capable of implementing various topological Hamiltonians, enabling flexible exploration of topological phenomena and potential applications in photonics and coupled systems.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a universal, reconfigurable photonic platform that can realize multiple topological Hamiltonians, including 1D and 2D models, with potential for broad application.

Findings

Successfully implemented SSH topological Hamiltonian with localized edge modes.

Realized a higher-order topological insulator with three corner states.

Platform enables rapid reconfiguration of different topological models.

Abstract

A variety of topological Hamiltonians have been demonstrated in photonic platforms, leading to fundamental discoveries and enhanced robustness in applications such as lasing, sensing, and quantum technologies. To date, each topological photonic platform implements a specific type of Hamiltonian with inexistent or limited reconfigurability. Here, we propose and demonstrate different topological models by using the same reprogrammable integrated photonics platform, consisting of a hexagonal mesh of silicon Mach-Zehnder interferometers with phase-shifters. We specifically demonstrate a one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Hamiltonian supporting a localized topological edge mode and a higher-order topological insulator based on a two-dimensional breathing Kagome Hamiltonian with three corner states. These results highlight a nearly universal platform for topological models that may fast-track research progress toward applications of topological photonics and other coupled systems.