Topological polaritons from non-topological quantum-wells in an optical cavity

ORAL

Abstract

We study the formation of topological polaritons from semiconductor excitons coupled to cavity photons. Oscillating classical electromagnetic fields can turn a trivial band structure into a Floquet topological insulator. In a similar spirit cavity photons can induce topology when coupling to otherwise trivial excitons. We discuss the necessary ingredients to lend the polaritons a non-trivial topology through a ``winding'' coupling of the excitons to the photons. One hallmark signature of the topological polaritons are chiral edge modes which allow for unidirectional photon propagation as a part of the exciton-photon edge mode.

Authors

  • Torsten Karzig

    • Caltech
    • California Institute of Technology
  • Netanel Lindner

    • Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
    • Technion
  • Gil Refael

    • California Institute of Technology
    • Caltech
    • Cal Inst of Tech (Caltech)
    • California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA