Kibble-Zurek mechanism in topologically non-trivial zigzag chains of polariton micropillars

Abstract: We consider a zigzag chain of coupled micropillar cavities, taking into account the polarization of polariton states. We show that the TE-TM splitting of photonic cavity modes yields topologically protected polariton edge states. During the strongly non-adiabatic process of polariton condensation, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism leads to a random choice of polarization, equivalent to dimerization of polymer chains. We show that dark-bright solitons appear as domain walls between polarization domains, analogous to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger solitons in polymers. The soliton density scales as a power law with respect to the quenching parameter.