Objective TOPOPOLIS aims at the development of semiconductor microcavity photonic crystal structures which are generally designed for the realization of solid state quantum simulation and specifically for the first ever observation of topological exciton-polariton edge states. With the ongoing refinement of semiconductor growth and etching techniques it has become possible to create microcavity photonic crystals to study new, complex and non-trivial phenomena of light-matter coupling. Here, polaritons in e.g. hexagonal lattice structures (artificial graphene) can serve as a tool to perform quantum simulation and to emulate the systems Hamiltonian. Polaritons are particularly well suited, because of their tunable mass and particle interactions, inherited from the excitons, as well as their open dissipative nature which allows a direct monitoring. In this context it has been proposed that with a suitable photonic crystal design a topological gap can emerge under magnetic field. This topological gap leads to optical quantum-Hall-like edge states that allow for an unidirectionally propagating polariton mode, protected from back-scattering. This exciting goal is of great interest as it will shed light into the physics of topological hybrid interacting bosons as well as from an application point of view.Reaching this goal most importantly requires very high Q-factor microcavities with low overall energetic disorder as well as low etching-induced sidewall damage.In this project, a scaleable photonic-trap method is proposed that allows for a precise control of the confinement potential in the microcavity photonic crystal and does not require an etching into the optically active quantum wells. This approach will be combined with electro-optical tuning to create a versatibe platform for quantum emulation and will allow for the experimental observation of topological polariton edge states that have the potential to enable new technologies in quantum simulation and logics. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator JULIUS-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT WURZBURG Net EU contribution € 159 460,80 Address SANDERRING 2 97070 Wuerzburg Germany See on map Region Bayern Unterfranken Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 159 460,80