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Topology and criticality in non-Hermitian multimodal optical resonators through engineered losses

Elizabeth Louis Pereira1,*, Hongwei Li2, Andrea Blanco-Redondo3, and Jose L. Lado1

  • *Contact author: elizabeth.pereira@aalto.fi
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033132 – Published 3 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ws84-xkh2

Abstract

Non-Hermitian topological matter provides a platform for engineering phenomena that go beyond the capabilities of Hermitian systems, enabling the use of losses to engineer topological phenomena. Non-Hermitian models often rely on artificial platforms made of engineered lattices because controlling losses in natural compounds is challenging. Although typical models for non-Hermitian photonic matter are often single mode, photonic systems are often multimodal, producing mixing between different normal modes in each site. Here, we explore a family of multimodal non-Hermitian lattices, featuring multiple resonant modes. We show that these multimodal models are capable of featuring topological modes and criticality, similar to the artificial single-mode models often considered. We analyze the robustness of these non-Hermitian topological modes to fluctuation of local losses, disorder, and artificial gauge field. We show that these effects can be captured via both a full microscopic model and effective multiorbital models. Specifically, we show that due to their multiorbital nature, the localization properties of non-Hermitian multiorbital models can be controlled by an external gauge field. Our results demonstrate that internal orbital degrees of freedom provide a promising strategy to engineer controllable non-Hermitian topology and criticality.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033132– Published 3 August, 2026
  • Received 15 September 2025
  • Accepted 29 June 2026
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