Physical Society Colloquium

Topological physics in dynamical quantum systems:
applications at the light-matter interface

Gil Refael

Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Caltech

Topological phases have been dominating the limelight in the past 10 years. They may provide a pathway to protected topological quantum computing, as well as reduced dissipation electronics. Their potential for new quantum devices, however, has been so far untapped. In my talk I will review the principles behind topological insulators, and try to implement them in dynamical many-body systems. As I will show, the combination of photonics and topology gives rise to topological-polaritons, and new paradigms for energy conversion and amplification of low frequency EM radiation in a doubly-driven system.