Optical Resonator Analog of a Two-Dimensional Topological Insulator

A lattice of optical ring resonators can exhibit a topological insulator phase, with the role of spin played by the direction of propagation of light within each ring. Unlike the system studied by Hafezi et al., Nat. Phys. 7, 907 (2011). topological protection is achieved without fine-tuning the interresonator couplings, which are given the same periodicity as the underlying lattice. The topological insulator phase occurs for strong couplings, when the tight-binding method is inapplicable. Using the transfer matrix method, we derive the band structure and phase diagram, and demonstrate the existence of robust edge states. When gain and loss are introduced, the system functions as a diode for coupled resonator modes.