The article "Unveiling asymmetric topological photonic states in anisotropic 2D perovskite microcavities", published in Light: Science & Applications, presents groundbreaking research conducted by scientists from the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) at FORTH — Emmanouil G. Mavrotsoupakis, Leonidas Mouchliadis, Minoas C. Chairetis and Apostolos Pantousas — in collaboration with Marios E. Triantafyllou-Rundell, Eleni C. P. Macropulos, and Constantinos C. Stoumpos from the University of Crete; Junhui Cao, Giannis G. Paschos, Alexey V. Kavokin, and Pavlos G. Savvidis (IESL’s Visiting Researcher) from Westlake University; Huaying Liu from Tongji University; and Hamid Ohadi from the University of St. Andrews.

From paper’s abstract:

“In this study, we explore a self-assembled two dimensional hybrid structure composed of anisotropically oriented organic/inorganic halide perovskite layers confined within a microcavity. The strong optical anisotropies of these perovskite systems, driven by significant refractive index contrasts and robust excitonic resonances at room temperature, enable the emergence of synthetic magnetic fields that mediate photonic and polaritonic interactions. The interplay between polarization-dependent modes and spatial inversion symmetry breaking gives rise to strong photonic Rashba-Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling, leading to distinct modifications in band topology and energy dispersions. These effects result in the formation of unconventional topological features, including non-zero Berry curvature and off-axis diabolical points, within the photonic and polaritonic bands at room temperature.”

This study leverages the distinctive properties of halide perovskites— including their capacity to sustain room-temperature excitons and large birefringence —to contribute to the advancement of polaritonic platforms aimed at applications in topological photonics and spinoptronics.

Reference:

Mavrotsoupakis, E.G., Mouchliadis, L., Cao, J. et al. Unveiling asymmetric topological photonic states in anisotropic 2D perovskite microcavities. Light Sci Appl 14, 207 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01852-8 [1]