  Kitaev model has both Abelian and non-Abelian anyonic excitations. It can act
as a starting point for topological quantum computation. However, this model
Hamiltonian is difficult to implement in natural condensed matter systems. Here
we propose a quantum simulation scheme by constructing the Kitaev model
Hamiltonian in a lattice of coupled cavities with embadded $\Lambda$-type
three-level atoms. In this scheme, several parameters are tunable, for example,
via external laser fields. Importantly, our scheme is based on currently
existing technologies and it provides a feasible way of realizing the Kitaev
model to explore topological excitations.
