Project description DEENESFRITPL Laying the foundations for quantum topological polaritonics Polaritonics is an intermediate regime between photonics and sub-microwave electronics. Bound electron-hole pairs, or excitons, are strongly coupled to cavity photons, giving rise to interacting quasiparticles: polaritons. Topological polaritonic states emerge in nanostructured microcavities solely from polariton repulsive interactions and can be controlled by optical methods. In contrast to electronic and photonic topological physics, quantum topological polaritonics combines strong nonlinear and non-Hermitian quantum effects that remain to be explored. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, the QuanToPol project will provide a fundamental theory for quantum topological polaritonics. The focus will be on developing the geometric theory and the topological classification of polaritonic states. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The recently proposed idea of topological band classification in photonic crystals has led to the prediction and observation oftopologically nontrivial photonic phases, phenomenologically similar to Quantum Hall and Quantum Spin Hall electronicphases, and to the development of a new field in physics – topological photonics. Photons at the edges of topologicallynontrivial photonic crystals are protected from backscattering and can be used for unidirectional guiding of light, which isextremely promising for optical logical device applications and for future optical computers. These ideas have recently givena new dimension to the field of polaritonics, which is the semiconductor optics equivalent of cavity quantum electrodynamics,where bound electron-hole pairs, or excitons, are strongly coupled to cavity photons to give rise to interacting quasiparticles:polaritons. Topological polaritonic states were shown to emerge in nanostructured microcavities solely from polaritonrepulsive interactions and can be controlled by optical means, contrary to the purely photonic case. In contrast to electronicand photonic topological physics, quantum topological polaritonics combines strong nonlinear and non-Hermitian quantumeffects that remain to be explored. This project will provide the fundamental theory basis for quantum topologicalpolaritonics, a new emerging field that unites topological photonics with polaritonics. The applicant, in collaboration with thehost group, will develop the geometric theory and the topological classification of polaritonic states, accounting for theirstrongly nonlinear and non-Hermitian nature. He will also apply this theory to the experimentally studied polaritonic systemswith potential impact on optical devices of the future. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Keywords Polaritons Microcavities Geometric Topological Nonlinear Non-Hermitian Driven-dissipative Condensates 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-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITE CLERMONT AUVERGNE Net EU contribution € 196 707,84 Address 49 bd francois mitterrand 63000 Clermont ferrand France See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne Puy-de-Dôme Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
