Topological zero-dimensional photonic modes in chiral coupled-cavity arrays

Abstract

We show theoretically that a properly chosen one-dimensional array of coupled photonic resonators (cavities) may possess localized zero-dimensional topological modes bearing resemblance with the corresponding edge modes/Majorana states in semiconductor nanowires atop a superconducting substrate. These modes constitute a manifold of degenerate states and are robust to the geometrical characteristics of the array, to the dielectric properties of the cavities and of the host medium. Such arrays can be realized in the laboratory as chains of microwave cavities within a metallic wire-network or as lattices of sinusoidally curved dielectric waveguides in the optical regime.