My research explores topological and non-equilibrium phenomena in synthetic quantum matter, with a focus on bosonic platforms such as photonics, plasmonics, and ultracold atomic gases. Using analytical and numerical tools, I investigate how geometry, symmetry, driving, and dissipation can be used to engineer and control wave dynamics in lattice systems, with close attention to experimentally relevant settings.

These topics have been explored in a range of recent publications.

Several of these research directions are also available as MSc thesis and research projects.
See the Thesis Topics page for student-oriented project descriptions.

Topological phases in synthetic systems

Topology provides a powerful framework for understanding and designing robust physical phenomena beyond conventional symmetry-based classifications. While originally developed in condensed-matter physics, topological concepts now play a central role in a wide range of synthetic platforms, including cold atoms, photonics, mechanical systems, and polaritonic structures.

A major direction of my research concerns the design and simulation of topological phases in lattice models, with emphasis on experimentally accessible realizations. This includes topological insulators and related phases in photonic and plasmonic systems, as well as bound states in the continuum and associated polarization singularities in momentum space.

Out-of-equilibrium and driven-dissipative physics

Many synthetic platforms naturally operate far from equilibrium, where driving and dissipation fundamentally shape the system dynamics. I study driven-dissipative lattice systems, combining concepts from Floquet engineering, non-Hermitian physics, and open quantum systems.

This line of research addresses phenomena such as loss-induced effects, lasing and radiation, and the emergence of non-Hermitian spectral features, including exceptional points. These studies aim to clarify how topology and non-equilibrium dynamics intertwine in realistic photonic and atomic systems.

Interactions and long-term perspectives

While several topological properties can be understood at the single-particle level, interactions are expected to significantly enrich the physics, especially in bosonic systems. A long-term goal of my research is to understand interacting topological phases in lattices, with an eye toward strongly correlated states of light and matter.

Such studies may contribute to future quantum technologies, where the controlled manipulation of photons or atoms is essential for information processing, sensing, and communication.