arXiv subjects

Hrvoje Buljan

Publications and source records attributed to Hrvoje Buljan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quantum Beats in Many-Body Localized Systems

Slow particle dynamics observed numerically even deep inside the many-body localized (MBL) regime has called the stability of MBL in the thermodynamic limit into question, and its microscopic origin remains unknown. Here, we show that this slow dynamics originates from many-body quantum beats that arise from the interaction-induced modulation of oscillations associated with single-particle hopping processes. We relate this mechanism to local integrals of motion (LIOMs) and show that it survives at arbitrarily large distances between LIOMs, is consistent with the stability of MBL in the thermodynamic limit, and is generic to many-body systems. We present new numerical results for quasiperiodic potentials and, based on the quantum beats mechanism, develop an analytical model that explains number entropy growth and quasiparticle spreading, as well as clarifies the distinct MBL phenomenology observed in quasiperiodic and random potentials. Lastly, we propose concrete signatures for observing many-body quantum beats in existing experimental platforms.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2026

Observation of Discrete 1D Solitons in an Optically Induced Lattice in Rubidium Atomic Vapor

The manipulation of light in periodic structures is fundamental to the development of discrete photonics and provides a versatile platform for controlling light propagation in integrated and quantum photonic systems. This work reports the experimental observation of discrete one-dimensional (1D) solitons in a photonic lattice, optically induced in warm rubidium vapor. The lattice is generated by the interference of two coupling laser fields intersecting at a small angle, which creates a spatially modulated 1D refractive index. When a probe beam is focused into a single lattice site, discrete diffraction is observed. By increasing the probe intensity, discrete solitons emerge as a result of the balance between discrete diffraction and self-focusing within the nonlinear atomic medium. Experimental results are supported by numerical simulations, in which the refractive index is modeled via optical Bloch equations for a multilevel atomic system driven by the coupling and probe fields in a $Λ$ configuration. These results, combined with the inherent controlability of gain and loss in atomic vapors, suggest that this platform provides a versatile foundation for exploring non-Hermitian nonlinear dynamics and parity-time-symmetric photonic lattices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Fractal hierarchy enables exponential scaling of topological boundary states

Exponential growth describes an extremely rapid process ubiquitous across mathematics and diverse physical, biological, and technological systems. Here, we introduce a class of fractal-inspired lattices that combine long-range periodic order with self-similar hierarchy, establishing a structural motif that enables exponential scaling of topological boundary states. We demonstrate this phenomenon in (i) a quasi-one-dimensional lattice chain constructed from Koch-curve unit cells and (ii) a two-dimensional periodic tiling lattice composed of Sierpinski-gasket unit cells. We show that, for suitable coupling parameters, both the number of topological boundary states $N_{\ell}$ and the number of topological minigaps $M_{\ell}$ grow exponentially with the fractal generation index $\ell$. We find that $N_{\ell}$ is an integer multiple of $M_{\ell}$, with the integer determined by the underlying symmetry. This hierarchical scaling law is captured by multi-topological-phase theory and confirmed experimentally in laser-written photonic lattices. Our results identify fractal hierarchy as a materials architecture principle for controlling boundary-state multiplicity, revealing an interplay between topology, self-similar geometry, and periodic order. More broadly, this work suggests a route to synthetic materials and integrated photonic platforms in which large numbers of robust boundary modes can be engineered within compact architectures.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

A Non-Abelian Route to Z2 Non-Hermitian Skin Effects

The non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), characterized by extensive boundary accumulation of eigenstates under open boundary conditions, has emerged as a central phenomenon in non-Hermitian physics. Conventionally, the NHSE arises from either non-reciprocal couplings or onsite gain and loss combined with synthetic gauge fields. Existing studies, however, have been largely confined to frameworks with Abelian-coupling, leaving the role of non-Abelian couplings essentially unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that non-Abelian-couplings can generate the NHSE, giving rise to a time-reversal-symmetry-protected Z2 skin effect with pseudospin-dependent boundary localization and dynamical pseudospin separation. Experimentally, we implement a representative four-level model using a programmable topolectrical circuit and directly observe both the predicted NHSE and the boundary-induced pseudospin-inversion reflection. Our work establishes a fundamental link between non-Abelian coupling and non-Hermitian topology, opening new avenues for realizing non-reciprocity-free topological materials and devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Topological photonics in one-dimensional settings

Over the past decade, topological photonics has emerged as a vibrant field, attracting significant attention and witnessing remarkable advancements. This growth can be attributed to its fundamental appeal and the unique opportunities it offers for unconventional control of light, promising innovations in next-generation photonic devices. At the heart of topological photonics lies the one-dimensional (1D) SSH model. Originally conceived to elucidate the physics of a molecular chain of polyacetylene, this model has found widespread applications in exploring a wide range of topological phenomena in photonics and beyond. In this chapter, we aim to provide an overview of topological photonics in one-dimensional (1D) settings. After briefly introducing paradigmatic 1D models, including the SSH, Rice-Mele, and AAH models, we review recent advances in experimental studies and applications of topological photonics based on 1D platforms. Our discussion highlights demonstrated examples, such as the nonlinear tuning of topological states in both Hermitian and non-Hermitian photonic SSH lattices, as well as nonlinear harmonic generation and topological lasing in SSH-type photonic microstructures. We further discuss characteristic topological phenomena in other representative 1D settings, including Floquet systems, topological pumping, quasicrystals, and synthetic non-Hermitian systems. Finally, we examine selected examples of two-dimensional (2D) photonic topological crystalline insulators that are closely linked to the SSH model. Towards the end, we summarize the chapter and provide a list of key contributions, together with an outlook on possible future directions in 1D topological photonics. While this review focuses specifically on 1D topological photonics, it is not intended to be comprehensive or exhaustive.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Controllable Lateral Optical Forces on Janus Particles in Fluid Media

Optical forces - studied since the earliest days of laser physics - continue to reveal rich dynamics and enable powerful tools for manipulation of objects on micro- and nanoscales, and even individual atoms. Lateral optical forces, which act perpendicular to the direction of beam propagation, are particularly intriguing but have largely been restricted to interface geometries such as air - water boundaries. Here, we realize tunable lateral optical force entirely within a fluid environment by using Janus particles: dielectric microspheres half-coated with gold. We show that the lateral optical force arises from scattering asymmetry induced by the asymmetric structure of the particles; it can be tuned by adjusting the polarization angle of a linearly polarized beam, but also particle parameters including their size and orientation. Experimentally, we directly observe fully reversible lateral propulsion of Janus particles in water merely by rotating the polarization direction, in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. These results establish a new mechanism for programmable, polarization-controlled optical manipulation, with promising implications for biophotonics, microfluidics, and active soft-matter systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Subsymmetry-protected compact edge states

Sub-symmetry (SubSy) protected topological states represent a concept that goes beyond the conventional framework of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases, demonstrating that topological boundary states can remain robust even when the pertinent symmetry holds only in a subset of Hilbert space. Typical SPT and SubSy boundary states decay exponentially into the bulk, which means they are not confined in just few lattice sites close to the boundary. Here, we introduce topologically compact edge states protected by SubSy, featuring extreme two-site localization at boundaries of a lattice, without any decay into the bulk. The compactness arises from local destructive interference at the boundary, while topological protection is ensured by SubSy, characterized by quantized winding numbers. Experimentally, we observe compact edge states in laser-written photonic lattices with engineered rhombic-like unit cells, confirming their robustness against perturbations under both chiral symmetry and SubSy conditions. Our results highlight the potential of SubSy protection for achieving topological confinement of light, paving the way for applications in compact waveguides, lasers, and high-sensitivity photonic sensors.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Quadratic Band Touching and Nontrivial Winding Reveal Generalized Angular Momentum Conservation

Angular momentum conservation stands as one of the most fundamental and robust laws of physics. In discrete lattices, however, its realization can deviate markedly from the continuous case, especially in the presence of nontrivial momentum-space band touchings. Here, we investigate angular momentum conservation associated with quadratic band-touching points (QBTPs) in two-dimensional lattices. We show that, unlike in graphene lattices hosting linear band-touching points (LBTPs), the conventional angular momentum is no longer conserved near QBTPs. Instead, we identify a generalized total angular momentum (GTAM) that remains conserved for both LBTPs and QBTPs, inherently determined by the topological winding number at the band-touching point (BTP). Using a photonic Kagome lattice, we experimentally demonstrate GTAM conservation through pseudospin-orbital angular momentum conversion. Furthermore, we show that this conservation principle extends to a broad class of discrete lattices with arbitrary pseudospin textures and higher-order winding numbers. These results reveal a fundamental link between pseudospin, angular momentum, and topology, establishing a unified framework for angular-momentum dynamics in discrete systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Strain-Induced Boundary States and Phase Transitions in Graphene Flakes

Strain has been extensively employed to tailor graphene's properties and has emerged as a powerful tool for engineering gauge fields and exploring fundamental phenomena in artificial platforms like photonic graphene. Here we discover that, in graphene flakes with custom boundaries, one can create or destroy edge states depending on the direction of the applied uniaxial strain. This is experimentally demonstrated in a photonic platform with two specific examples: one flake structure with pairs of twig and zigzag edges, and the other with pairs of armchair and bearded edges. We find that the existence of the edge states and their positions in momentum space are accurately predicted with appropriate winding numbers, unveiling the underlying topology of such edge states. Furthermore, when a graphene flake supports the maximum number of edge states along boundaries after a semimetal-to-insulator transition, both compact localized edge and corner states emerge, indicating the realization of a photonic minimal-model higher-order topological insulator based on such strained graphene flakes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Detection of presence and number of persons by a Wi-Fi signal: a practical RSSI-based approach

We present experimental results and theoretical methods for the precise determination of the presence and the number of persons in an observed area by using Wi-Fi signals. Our setup does not require active cooperation of persons present in the Wi-Fi field, and relies only on the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which is read by the detectors. We first show that the standard deviation of the measured RSSI data can be used as a practical tool to establish the presence of a person (or more persons) with high precision, in particular when the signal source is inside the measurement room. For the more difficult problem of counting the number of persons, we have employed machine learning algorithms to analyze data collected on nine different detectors and up to nine people present in our experiment. We have achieved excellent results (prediction accuracy of $98 \%$ and above) for counting already with only few detectors utilized in the analysis. While generalizations to nontrivial indoor geometries (such as odd shapes, more rooms, and greater size) may be of interest in some applications, where additional care with respect to positioning od detectors can be needed (or even placing additional detectors), this approach may be useful due to its conceptual practicality and solid prediction results.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Multi-topological phases of matter

The discovery of topological phases of matter and topological boundary states had tremendous impact on condensed matter physics and photonics, where topological phases are defined via energy bands, giving rise to topological band theory. However, topological systems that cannot be described by band topology but still support non-trivial boundary states are little-known and largely unexplored. Here, we uncover a new kind of topological phase of matter named "multi-topological phase" (MTP) that features multiple sets of boundary states, where each set is associated with one distinct topological invariant. Unlike conventional topological phase transitions, the MTP transitions can occur without band-gap closing. We present typical examples of MTPs in a one-dimensional topological insulator and a two-dimensional higher-order topological insulator, where the systems are otherwise trivial according to band topology. Furthermore, MTPs can exist also in indirectly gapped Chern insulators, beyond the regime where the conventional bulk-boundary correspondence predicts the existence of boundary states. Experimentally, we demonstrate the first two examples of MTPs in laser-written photonic lattices. Our findings constitute a fundamental advance in topological physics and provide a route for designing novel topological materials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Optical Vortex Ladder via Sisyphus Pumping of Pseudospin

Robust higher-order optical vortices are much in demand for applications in optical manipulation, optical communications, quantum entanglement and quantum computing. However, in numerous experimental settings, a controlled generation of optical vortices with arbitrary orbital angular momentum (OAM) remains a substantial challenge. Here, we present a concept of "optical vortex ladder" for stepwise generation of optical vortices through Sisyphus pumping of pseudospin modes in photonic graphene. Instead of conical diffraction and incomplete pseudospin conversion under traditional Gaussian beam excitations, the vortices produced in the ladder arise from non-trivial topology and feature diffraction-free Bessel profiles, thanks to the refined excitation of the ring spectrum around the Dirac cones. By employing a periodic "kick" to the photonic graphene, effectively inducing the Sisyphus pumping, the ladder enables tunable generation of optical vortices of any order even when the initial excitation does not involve any OAM. The optical vortex ladder stands out as an intriguing non-Hermitian dynamical system, and, among other possibilities, opens up a pathway for applications of topological singularities in beam shaping and wavefront engineering.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Theory of classical electrodynamics with topologically quantized singularities as electric charges

We formulate a theory of classical electrodynamics where the only admissible electric charges are topological singularities in the electromagnetic field, and charge quantization is accounted by the Chern theorem, such that Dirac magnetic monopoles are not needed. The theory allows positive and negative charges of equal magnitude, where the sign of the charge corresponds to the chirality of the topological singularity. Given the trajectory ${\bf w}(t)$ of the singularity, one can calculate electric and magnetic fields identical to those produced by Maxwell's equations for a moving point charge, apart from a multiplicative constant factor related to electron charge and vacuum permittivity. The theory is based on the relativistic Weyl equation in frequency-wavevector space, with eigenstates comprising the position, velocity, and acceleration of the singularity, and eigenvalues defining the retarded position of the charge. From the eigenstates we calculate the Berry connection and the Berry curvatures, and identify the curvatures as electric and magnetic fields.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Topologically protected vortex transport via chiral-symmetric disclination

Vortex phenomena are ubiquitous in nature, from vortices of quantum particles and living cells [1-7], to whirlpools, tornados, and spiral galaxies. Yet, effective control of vortex transport from one place to another at any scale has thus far remained a challenging goal. Here, by use of topological disclination [8,9], we demonstrate a scheme to confine and guide vortices of arbitrary high-order charges10,11. Such guidance demands a double topological protection: a nontrivial winding in momentum space due to chiral symmetry [12,13] and a nontrivial winding in real space arising from collective complex coupling between vortex modes. We unveil a vorticity-coordinated rotational symmetry, which sets up a universal relation between the topological charge of a guided vortex and the order of rotational symmetry of the disclination structure. As an example, we construct a C3-symmetry photonic lattice with a single-core disclination, thereby achieving robust transport of an optical vortex with preserved orbital angular momentum (OAM) that corresponds solely to one excited vortex mode pinned at zero energy. Our work reveals a fundamental interplay of vorticity, disclination and higher-order topological phases14-16, applicable broadly to different fields, promising in particular for OAM-based photonic applications that require vortex guides, fibers [17,18] and lasers [19].

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Deep learning empowered synthetic dimension dynamics: morphing of light into topological modes

Synthetic dimensions (SDs) opened the door for exploring previously inaccessible phenomena in high-dimensional synthetic space. However, construction of synthetic lattices with desired coupling properties is a challenging and unintuitive task, largely limiting the exploration and current application of SD dynamics. Here, we overcome this challenge by using deep learning artificial neural networks (ANNs) to validly design the dynamics in SDs. We use ANNs to construct a lattice in real space that has a predesigned spectrum of mode eigenvalues. By employing judiciously chosen perturbations (wiggling of waveguides), we show experimentally and theoretically resonant mode coupling and tailored dynamics in SDs, which leads to effective transport or confinement of a complex beam profile. As an enlightening example, we demonstrate morphing of light into a topologically protected edge mode in ANN-designed Su-Schrieffer-Heeger photonic lattices. Such ANN-assisted construction of SDs advances towards utopian networks, opening new avenues in fundamental research beyond geometric limitations. Our findings may offer a flexible and efficient solution for mode lasing, optical switching, and communication technologies.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Mapping and manipulation of topological singularities: from photonic graphene to T-graphene

Topological singularities (TSs) in momentum space give rise to intriguing fundamental phenomena as well as unusual material properties, attracting a great deal of interest in the past decade. Recently, we have demonstrated universal momentum-to-real-space mapping of TSs and pseudospin angular momentum conversion using photonic honeycomb (graphene-like) and Lieb lattices. Such mapping arises from the Berry phase encircling the Dirac or Dirac-like cones, and is thus of topological origin. In this paper, we briefly present previous observations of topological charge conversion, and then we present our first theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration of TS mapping in a new T-graphene lattice. Unlike other lattices, there are two coexisting but distinct TSs located at different high-symmetry points in the first Brillouin zone of T-graphene, which enables controlled topological charge conversion in the same lattice. We show active manipulation of the TS mapping, turning the two TSs into vortices of different helicities, or one into a high-order vortex but the other into a quadrupole. Such TS manipulation and pseudospin-to-orbital conversion may find applications in optical communications and quantum information, and may bring insight into the study of other Dirac-like structures with multiple TSs beyond the 2D photonic platform.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Photonic p-orbital higher-order topological insulators

The orbital degrees of freedom play a pivotal role in understanding fundamental phenomena in solid-state materials as well as exotic quantum states of matter including orbital superfluidity and topological semimetals. Despite tremendous efforts in engineering synthetic cold-atom, electronic and photonic lattices to explore orbital physics, thus far high orbitals in an important class of materials, namely, the higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs), have not been realized. Here, we demonstrate p-orbital corner states in a photonic HOTI, unveiling their underlying topological invariant, symmetry protection, and nonlinearity-induced dynamical rotation. In a Kagome-type HOTI, we find that topological protection of the p-orbital corner states demands an orbital-hopping symmetry, in addition to the generalized chiral symmetry. Due to orbital hybridization, the nontrivial topology of the p-orbital HOTI is hidden if bulk polarization is used as the topological invariant, but well manifested by the generalized winding number. Our work opens a pathway for the exploration of intriguing orbital phenomena mediated by higher band topology applicable to a broad spectrum of systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Sub-symmetry protected topological states

A hallmark of symmetry-protected topological phases (SPTs) are topologically protected boundary states, which are immune to perturbations that respect the protecting symmetry. It is commonly believed that any perturbation that destroys an SPT phase simultaneously destroys the boundary states. However, by introducing and exploring a weaker sub-symmetry (SubSy) requirement on perturbations, we find that the nature of boundary state protection is in fact more complex. We demonstrate that the boundary states are protected by only the SubSy using prototypical Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) and breathing Kagome lattice (BKL) models, even though the overall topological invariant and the SPT phase are destroyed by SubSy preserving perturbations. By employing judiciously controlled symmetry breaking in photonic lattices, we experimentally demonstrate such SubSy protection of topological states. Furthermore, we introduce a long-range hopping symmetry in BKLs, which resolves a debate on the topological nature of their corner states. Our results apply to other systems beyond photonics, heralding the possibility of exploring the intriguing properties of SPT phases in the absence of full symmetry in different physical contexts.

physics.optics↗