Photonic Topological Insulators: A Beginner's Introduction [Electromagnetic Perspectives]

The control and manipulation of electromagnetic (EM) waves has reached a new level with the recent understanding of topological states of matter. These metamaterials have the potential to revolutionize many areas in traditional EM design, from highly robust cavities to small-footprint waveguides. Much of the past literature has been on the cutting edge of condensedmatter physics, but there are now ample opportunities to explore their usage for practical microwave and optical devices.