AMO In the literature: open

Fractional quantum Hall states of light with many photons

In plain words

Light trapped in a twisted cavity and made to interact through Rydberg atoms has formed a two-photon version of a fractional quantum Hall state. The goal is to build one with many photons and check its unusual properties.

Precise statement

Bosonic Laughlin state at filling $\nu = 1/2$ of Rydberg polaritons in a twisted (non-planar) optical cavity. Prepare it with $N \ge 10$ photons and verify topological order through the fractional braiding phase or edge excitations. Answer: achieved $N$ and fidelity, and the loss process limiting further growth.

What would settle it

Measurement of a fractional braiding phase or chiral edge spectrum in a photonic fluid of at least 10 particles.

Status in the literature

Two-photon Laughlin states were observed in 2020 (Clark et al., Nature).

See also