  Chiral exceptional points (CEPs) have been shown to emerge in traveling wave
resonators via asymmetric back scattering from two or more nano-scatterers.
Here, we provide a new perspective on the formation of CEPs based on the
coupled oscillator model. Our approach provides an intuitive understanding for
the modal coalescence that signals the emergence of CEPs, and emphasizes the
role played by dissipation throughout this process. In doing so, our model also
unveils an otherwise unexplored connection between CEPs and other types of
exceptional points associated with parity-time symmetric photonic arrangements.
In addition, our model also explains qualitative results observed in recent
experimental work involving CEPs. Importantly, the tight-binding nature of our
approach allows us to extend the notion of CEP to discrete photonics setups
that consist coupled resonator and waveguide arrays, thus opening new avenues
for exploring the exotic features of CEPs in conjunction with other interesting
physical effects such as nonlinearities and topological protections.
