Special CPM Seminar

Light matters - from Floquet topological insulators to topological polaritons

Gil Refael

CalTech

In my talk I will present fresh findings on the possibility of producing a topological polariton (nicknamed topolariton) in trivial quantum-wells coupled to extended optical cavities. The idea of a topolariton emerges naturally from the concept of Floquet topological insulators. First, I will review how an external periodic drive can lead to a Floquet topological spectrum in a trivial 2d quantum well. Next, I will focus on exciton-polaritons, and present some toy models of quantum-wells coupled to optical cavities that exhibit ‘topolaritons’ - i.e., chiral edge modes that are superpositions of photons and excitons.