1212.5034 (G. Q. Liang et al.)

Optical Resonator Analog of a Two-Dimensional Topological Insulator    [PDF]

G. Q. Liang, Y. D. Chong

A lattice of optical ring resonators can exhibit a topological insulator phase, with the direction of rotation in the resonators playing the role of spin. This occurs when the inter-resonator coupling is sufficiently large, and the synthetic magnetic vector potential set up by the couplers is zero. Using the transfer matrix method, we derive the band structure, phase diagram, and the projected band diagram showing the existence of spin-polarized edge states. When PT (parity/time-reversal) symmetric gain and loss are introduced, the system functions as an optical diode which does not require optical nonlinearities.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.5034