Topologically protected midgap states in complex photonic lattices

One of the principal goals in the design of photonic crystals is the engineering of band gaps and defect states. Drawing on the concepts of band-structure topology, I here describe the formation of exponentially localized, topologically protected midgap states in photonic systems with spatially distributed gain and loss. When gain and loss are suitably arranged these states maintain their topological protection and then acquire a selectively tunable amplification rate. This finds applications in the beam dynamics along a photonic lattice and in the lasing of quasi-one-dimensional photonic crystals.