Topological Lasing from Thouless Pumping in Bilayer Photonic Crystal

D.-H.-Minh Nguyen; Dung Xuan Nguyen; H. Chau Nguyen; Thibaud Louvet; Emmanuel Drouard; Xavier Letartre; Dario Bercioux; Hai Son Nguyen

doi:10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02664

journal article·2026-03-04Open access

Topological Lasing from Thouless Pumping in Bilayer Photonic Crystal

D.-H.-Minh Nguyen, Dung Xuan Nguyen, H. Chau Nguyen, Thibaud Louvet, Emmanuel Drouard, Xavier Letartre, Dario Bercioux, Hai Son Nguyen

ACS Photonics· Volume 13· Issue 5

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Source abstract

Abstract

Topological lasing leverages concepts from topological physics to achieve single-mode light amplification within topological bandgaps, offering robustness against fabrication imperfections. Recent advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) and phase-change materials (PCMs) at the subwavelength scale promise new avenues for dynamically reconfigurable topological lasers, enabling robust and tunable nanoscale light sources. Here, we numerically demonstrate a dynamically reconfigurable lasing action at telecom wavelengths in a bilayer photonic crystal through the mechanisms of Thouless pumping. By designing two competing periodic potentialsone slowly translating photonic grating atop another stationary onewe observe a transition between a topological pumping regime and conventional mode oscillation. A carefully engineered heterojunction between these phases supports a robust lasing mode that can be dynamically tuned via MEMSs or reversible PCMs. Our work establishes bilayer photonic crystals as a programmable platform for achieving topological light sources, showcasing a potential pathway for merging topological photonics with reconfigurable photonic devices.

Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Nanomaterials

OpenAlex topics: Photonic Crystals and Applications · Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications · Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Donostia International Physics Center

Advanced Polymers and Materials: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, Chemistry Faculty (UPV/EHU), Paseo M. Lardizabal 3, San Sebastian 20018, Spain

Brown Theoretical Physics Center and Department of Physics, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States

Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems

Institute for Basic Science (IBS)

Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät, Universität Siegen, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, Siegen 57068, Germany

Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, CNRS, INL, UMR5270, Ecully 69130, France

IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Euskadi Plaza, 5, Bilbao 48009, Spain

IUF

Universié de France

Funding

Agence Nationale de la Recherche · Bundesministerium f?r Bildung und Forschung · Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci?n y Universidades · Universit? de Lyon · Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science · Brown University · Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft · Chinesisch-Deutsche Zentrum f?r Wissenschaftsf?rderung · Institute for Basic Science · Hezkuntza, Hizkuntza Politika Eta Kultura Saila, Eusko Jaurlaritza · H2020 European Research Council

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