The Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series presents Gil Refael of Caltech on "Topological Physics at the Light-matter Interface" on Friday, Nov. 13, at 4:10 p.m.at an Online Departmental Colloquium (Virtual link to be posted later).

Abstract: 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 then show how these ideas take a new life when applied to systems where light and matter interact. As I will show, the combination of photonics and topology gives rise to topological-polaritons, new paradigms for infra-red detectors and energy harvesting, and new methods for conversion and amplification of low frequency EM radiation.