Light on the Edge of Topological Insulators

Topological Insulators materials with insulating bulk and topologically non trivial semi metallic surface states are under intensive fundamental research as they constitute a laboratory for studying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics In this talk we will focus on the applied science of topological insulators and the harnessing of their unique properties towards transformative technologies Specifically we will discuss how the unique light matter interaction of topological insulators at near field illumination provides the basis for applications in polarization optics in optical fibers A comparison to magnetic time reversal non preserving systems will be addressed with a focus on magneto optical Faraday effect and its use in polarization rotators