Nontrivial topological phases in "Zig-Zag" arrays of polarization transmons

Abstract: In recent years, quantum simulators of topological models have been extensively studied across a variety of platforms and regimes. A new promising research direction makes use of meta-atoms with multiple intrinsic degrees of freedom, which to date have been predominantly studied in the classical regime. Here, we propose a superconducting quantum simulator to study an extension of the well-known "Zig-Zag" model with long-range cross-polarization couplings using polarization transmons hosting degenerate dipole orbitals. We map the phase transitions of the extended "Zig-Zag" model both numerically and analytically using inverse participation ratios and topological invariants. We demonstrate the existence of in-gap localized trivial and Tamm edge states. With linearized meta-atoms, we show via electromagnetic modeling that the proposed arrangement closely reproduces the extended "Zig-Zag" model. This work paves the way towards experimental investigation of the previously inaccessible topological quantum many-body phenomena.