Topological quantum optics

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Topological phases of matter have profoundly impacted our understanding of condensed matter. Their influence ranges from understanding the universality of the conductivity plateaus in the integer quantum Hall effect to envisioning new hardware platforms for fault-tolerant quantum computers. The emulation of these phases of matter in artificial systems - e.g. cold atoms, photonic nanostructures, and optomechanical and mechanical arrays - has emerged in the last few years as a powerful approach for exploring topological physics beyond what is physically reachable in the solid-state. Among these synthetic platforms, photonic systems have shown a huge potential, thanks to their versatility and technological relevance. This has led to the blooming of a research field called topological photonics which focuses on the conception of new generations of photonic devices more resilient to fabrication defects - including topologically protected lasers - and on the emulation of exotic topological phases that have no counter-parts in condensed matter, e.g. phases involving synthetic dimensions, disorder or drive and dissipation. Right now, one of the most promising perspectives of this rapidly evolving field of research is to extend its exploration toward the quantum regime. Indeed, considering that the main hurdle hindering the scaling of quantum devices is related to the extreme fragility of coherent states, topological protection - in photonic as well as in electronic devices - appears as an extremely valuable asset that needs to be rapidly investigated. This is precisely the main objective of this research program that will explore the emergence of many-body quantum states of light and matter in topologically protected environments. To achieve this, we will follow a dual approach consisting of A- dense ensembles of quantum emitters embedded inside Si-based topological photonic crystals, and B- correlated electronic states in semiconductor monolayers, both strongly coupled to topological photonic modes. In order to tackle this very ambitious challenge, we will follow a roadmap consisting of three main axes of research. 1- The photonic axis that will aim at fabricating, characterizing, and optimizing the design of topological photonic crystals in silicon. 2- The polaritonic axis that will aim at reaching a strong light-matter coupling regime between our collective excitations, both with the dense ensembles of emitters and the correlated electronic states, and our topologically protected photonic modes. 3- The blockade regime where we will push the quality factor of our photonic structures in order to reach a regime where a single quantum of excitation populates our topologically protected polaritonic modes. This original research program is expected to have a major impact on quantum technologies, allowing us to better understand at which extent topological systems can be harnessed for protecting quantum devices from noise and other sources of dephasing.