Quantum light-controlled topological phases of matter

Using quantum light to control material properties is an emergent field of research that is sparked by the recent experimental advances in controlling chemical reactions, enhancing transport in semiconductors or even inducing superconductivity in polymers.

Inducing topological phases of matter with light is particularly interesting research direction due to their robustness and their possible application in quantum technologies.

This theoretical proposal will focus specifically on using quantum nature of light to probe, control and engineer topological phases of matter arising in solid-state materials coupled to cavity photons.

I will study semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures, which have been under intense experimental scrutiny recently in the context of topological superconductivity, coupled to cavity photons with the aim of distinguishing trivial from topological zero-energy bound states arising in such setups.

Cavity response will be also investigated as a tool for probing corner states in second-order topological superconductors.

This proposal will explore how to control topological phase transitions in various topological materials, including semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures, strongly coupled to light, and also focus on topological characterization of the hybrid polaritonic light-matter excitations arising in such systems.

The overarching goal of this project is to propose a protocol for engineering topological states in initially trivial electronic materials with quantum light.

The implementation of this proposal requires a study of various coupling regimes between a solid-state material and quantum light, and is based on my experience in mesoscopic physics and circuit quantum electrodynamics. Moreover, design of new topological systems will help to move forward the field of quantum technologies.