Topological photonics
As a branch of mathematics, topology studies the properties of objects that remain unchanged under continuous deformations. Despite its abstract nature, topology has direct applications in physics, explaining the quantization of Hall resistance in the quantum Hall effect, which persists despite defects and impurities, anomalous velocity, and other physical effects. The importance of the discovery of topological phases of matter and topological phase transitions was recognized with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Topological photonics explores ways to realize states of light protected against scattering on defects and structural imperfections, promising for the development of disorder-resistant devices for all-optical information processing. At ITMO, our group investigates topological states of classical and quantum light, developing both fundamental and applied concepts: from protected edge and corner states in linear and nonlinear photonic systems to their coherent control methods.
Staff