We present an active framework for advanced reconfigurable photonic systems that unifies classical and quantum information processing. On an active III-V semiconductor platform, we first demonstrate the synergy between non-Hermitian photonics and topological photonics, realizing non-Hermitian topological light steering. This enables robust directional control of topological modes beyond conventional Hermitian constraints, routing optical signals on-chip in an ultra-flexible manner. Extending this approach to computation, we develop a reconfigurable photonic processor capable of performing both linear and nonlinear optical operations on-chip. Using a lithography-free integration approach, the processor achieves scalable, low-cost fabrication while maintaining high performance. Linear operations, such as matrix multiplication, are combined with field-programmable nonlinear computation functionalities, allowing dynamic implementation of nonlinear functions such as polynomials. This programmability enables in-situ reconfiguration of computational tasks, bridging conventional linear photonic circuits and complex nonlinear optical computing paradigms. Our platform provides a versatile route toward integrated photonic computing, neuromorphic processing, and real-time signal processing, establishing a unified framework for linear and nonlinear operations within a single processor. Finally, we extend active, reconfigurable photonics to the quantum domain, demonstrating a classical-decisive quantum internet architecture capable of IP-compatible entanglement distribution over deployed fiber networks. Together, these advances establish a scalable, fault-tolerant platform that bridges topological photonics, non-Hermitian control, and quantum networking, paving the way for high-performance classical and quantum photonic technologies.

Liang Feng is a Professor of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) and Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UCSD and BS/MS both in Physics from Nanjing University, China. Currently his research interests include integrated photonics, photonic computing/information processing, quantum information science, and optoelectronics. He is an Optica fellow and a recipient of Aspen Institute Italia Award, Sloan Research Fellow, DARPA Director’s Fellowship, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Experimental Physics Investigator Award, etc.

This lecture was made possible by the William C. Ferguson Fund.