# What are the applications of edge states in 1D topological systems?

In 2D, we get robust conducting edges. In 3D, we get robust conducting surfaces. These are interesting because we can possibly utilise this robustness for protected electron transport (or light transport in photonic systems).

What are the applications of 1D edge states (when the wave function is localised at the edge)?

I believe Kitaev's 1D model has quantum computing applications (how does this use the edge state?), could other 1D systems be used in a similar manner? Are there any other applications of 1D edge states?

• Does a physical system not have a point if it does not have applications? – Sebastian Riese May 8 at 14:23
• @SebastianRiese hrm yeah maybe that's not the best wording, changed the title – Janet Zhong May 8 at 14:45
• Are you asking about 1D systems (with 0D edge states), or 2D systems with 1D edge states? – Anyon May 9 at 2:46
• @Anyon 1D systems with 0D edge states! Or even 2D systems with 0D edge states (corner states or something), the ones where the edge states are just localised wave functions – Janet Zhong May 9 at 2:58

In traditional routes of building quantum computing platforms, the qubit states $$|0\rangle$$ and $$|1\rangle$$ are encoded in two different energy levels of a physical system (e.g. atomic levels), and operations/gates are performed by driving transitions between these levels (e.g. with laser pulses). An important challenge for these approaches is that the energy splitting between $$|0\rangle$$ and $$|1\rangle$$ states can cause one state to decay into another (or even to states that are not part of the qubit two-level system), especially during gate manipulations.