Non‐Hermitian and Topological Photonics

In recent years new concepts for controlling the flow of light have emerged. Perhaps the most important among these concepts are non-Hermitian optics (seeking to utilize gain and loss to control light properties) and topological photonics that rely on global invariant features of the systems. While the former grew out of interest in the mathematical notion of parity-time reversal symmetry and its associated exotic effects such as the presence of exceptional points, the latter was inspired by the Nobel prize work on topological material in condensed matter physics. Very recently, the marriage between these two concepts has been proposed and shown to have far reaching consequences both at the fundamental and application levels.

The aim of this seminar is to bring together a highly diverse group of experts in experimental and theoretical non-Hermitian topological photonics and microwave systems as well as experts in open quantum systems to present their recent results and discuss the important open problems in the field; and in doing so provide a roadmap for further development in the area of non-Hermitian topological quantum systems. Potential participants range from world-leading scientists in different fields of non-Hermitian optics and topological photonics to young scientists who are interested in these interdisciplinary research fields. We expect every participant to contribute to this seminar by either giving a talk or by presenting a poster.

The conference language will be English. The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus-Foundation bears the cost of full-board accommodation for all participants.