Photonic state engineering via energy-level crossing by giant atoms in topological waveguide QED setup

Abstract: Photonic state engineering in waveguide QED is typically based on local light-matter interactions. This limits its control over the spatial structure of bound photonic states. Here, we demonstrate a distinct mechanism arising from the interplay between nonlocal giant-atom coupling and topological band structure. Specifically, we consider giant atoms coupled to a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger waveguide and show that this configuration enables a controllable energy-level crossing protected by the topological gap. Adiabatically sweeping the atomic detuning across the crossing leads to a controlled exchange between distinct photonic bound states. In a two-giant-atom configuration, this mechanism achieves high-fidelity conversion of a spatially splitting state into a combining state. Extending this scheme to three-giant atoms, we further realize robust, shape-preserving photon transfer mediated by sequential in-gap crossings. Our results demonstrate how topology and nonlocal light-matter coupling can be combined to achieve programmable control of bound photonic states in waveguide QED platforms.