Exciton-Polariton Topological Insulator with an Array of Magnetic Dots

This proposal opens a way to applications of the recently demonstrated exciton-polariton topological insulator by suggesting a more practical and compact device design. The authors suggest replacing bulky external magnets with magnetic quantum dots embedded close to the layers of the quantum wells in the system; the proximity of these quantum dots to the excitons provides a local magnetic field that is strong enough to create unidirectional, topologically protected exciton-polariton edge modes. This approach offers significant practical advantage by eliminating the strong external magnetic field and cryogenics required in the previous experiments.