Topological Photonic Systems: Virtuous Platforms to Study Topological Quantum Matter

Abstract

Topological insulators are a new class of materials that have engendered considerable research interest among the condensed matter community owing primarily to their application prospects in quantum computations and spintronics. Many of the associated phenomena, however, can be well reproduced in classical photonic systems with the additional advantage of relatively less demanding fabrication and engineered system characteristics. Therefore, the photonic analogs of topological materials have gained prominence in the last decade, not only in the field of optics but as an active research front of the topological physics at large. In this article, we succinctly review the fundamental concepts of topological physics and provide a concise description of the photonic topological insulators.