從 30 年前提出的光子晶體 (photonic crystals) 與光子能隙材料 (photonic band gap materials)，到過去十多 年很熱門的超穎材料 (metamaterials)，再到近幾年正在快速發展的拓樸光子學 (topological photonics)，都 是光子學與電磁波研究受凝態物理概念啟發而引出的新研究領域。本文對拓樸絕緣體與拓樸光子學的概念 做一簡介，並探討未來拓樸材料 (topological materials) 研究可探索的方向。

Photonic crystals, photonic band gap materials, metamaterials and topological photonics, all of these research areas concerning electromagnetic waves are inspired by some important concepts in condensed matter physics. In this article, we introduce the concepts in topological insulator and topological photonics, and discuss the possible future of the topological materials research.