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Topological photonics

Come to light

Nature Physics volume 13, pages 532–533 (2017)Cite this article

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Topological concepts have been demonstrated in microwave photonic systems but laser-written waveguides show the way to topological physics for light at optical frequencies.

Recent developments in condensed-matter physics have significantly expanded the family of topological states of matter. As they can exhibit a range of unique phenomena, such as protected modes and unusual transport properties, these developments have also been of interest to those working in classical physics, such as acoustic, mechanical or photonic systems. And although a number of these topological states have been successfully emulated in photonics1, the complexity of earlier designs2,3 has somewhat restricted their application to certain frequencies. Writing in Nature Physics, Jiho Noh and colleagues4 now report the observation of type-II Weyl points and Fermi arc-like surface states for light in the optical domain.

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Figure 1: Type-II Weyl points and Fermi arcs.

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  1. Alexander B. Khanikaev is in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Grove School of Engineering, City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, USA, and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, USA,

    Alexander B. Khanikaev

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  1. Alexander B. Khanikaev
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Correspondence to Alexander B. Khanikaev.

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Khanikaev, A. Come to light. Nature Phys 13, 532–533 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4123

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