Research

In today’s AI- and data-driven era, the rate at which we generate scientific hypotheses far outpaces our ability to experimentally validate them. To keep pace in the laboratory, there is a growing need to integrate robotics to accelerate experimental science through automation and intelligent decision-making. Furthermore, while predictive AI models can achieve high accuracy across a range of tasks, they remain limited in interpretability. Progress in physics often depends on key insights derived from data; therefore, developing novel AI frameworks that align closely with scientific objectives is crucial for fully leveraging AI’s capabilities in enabling fundamental discoveries.

Some key questions that inform my research:
- How do we develop interpretable AI models that are closely aligned with scientific goals?
- What does a future that employs robotics and AI for physics experiments look like?

References:
[1] KAN: Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks, ICLR (2025)
[2] AI-Driven Robotics for Optics, arXiv:2505.17985 (2025)
[3] Symbolic Learning of Topological Bands in Photonic Crystals, arXiv:2505.10485 (2025)
[4] Gradient-Based Search of Quantum Phases: Discovering Unconventional Fractional Chern Insulators, arXiv:2509.10438 (2025)
[5] A Framework for Closed-Loop Robotic Assembly, Alignment and Self-Recovery of Precision Optical Systems, arXiv:2603.21496 (2026)

The field of nanophotonics focuses on the manipulation and control of light at the nanometer scale. The unique properties of light-matter interactions at these scales arise from the confinement of photons to dimensions comparable to the wavelength of light. This leads to phenomena such as enhanced optical transport, strong light-matter coupling, and the ability to manipulate light in ways that are impossible with traditional optical components. This precise control makes it possible to leverage phenomena such as the Purcell effect to increase or suppress spontaneous emission rates or supercollimation to guide light perfectly.

Some key questions that inform my research:
- Can we find novel strategies for trapping and guiding light at the nanoscale?
- What new functionalities can be achieved by leveraging nanophotonics for scintillation?

References:
[1] Tunable Nanophotonic Devices and Cavities based on a Two-Dimensional Magnet, Nature Photonics 19, 1006–1012 (2025)
[2] Reentrant delocalization transition in one-dimensional photonic quasicrystals, Physical Review Research 5, 033170 (2023)
[3] Observation of Bound States in the Continuum Embedded in Symmetry Bandgaps, Science Advances 7, 52 eabk1117 (2021)
[4] Point-Defect-Localized Bound States in the Continuum in Photonic Crystals and Structured Fibers, Physical Review Letters 127, 023605 (2021)

Topological insulators and semimetals are fascinating classes of materials that have emerged as a central focus in condensed matter physics. They represent distinct phases of matter characterized by boundary states whose properties differ fundamentally from those of the bulk. These features arise from the nontrivial topology of the electronic wavefunctions, rather than from specific material details. Moreover, in systems with strong quasiparticle interactions, topological phases can give rise to even more exotic phenomena, such as fractionalization and topological order. Over the past decade, concepts from topological matter have been extended to other systems supporting wave-like excitations, such as light propagating in photonic crystals, where they provide powerful guiding principles for device design.

These are some key questions that inform my research:
- What novel phases of matter arise from the interplay of symmetry, geometry, and topology?
- How can we robustly control noise and excitations in quantum systems using topological principles?


References:
[1] Noise Immunity in Quantum Optical Systems through Non-Hermitian Topology, arXiv:2503.11620 (2025)
[2] Quantized Crystalline-Electromagnetic Responses in Insulators, Physical Review Letters 135, 256602 (2025)
[3] Weyl Points on Non-Orientable Manifolds, Physical Review Letters 132, 266601 (2024)
[4] Polarization and Weak Topology in Chern Insulators, Physical Review Letters 132, 116602 (2024)
[5] Observation of a Charge-2 Photonic Weyl Point in the Infrared, Physical Review Letters 125, 253902 (2020)