Abstract

Topological insulators (TIs) insulate in their bulk and conduct electricity on their surfaces. In 2-D TIs, the edge current has scatter-free propagation, making it extremely robust. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this new class of solids is that their physical properties are related to topological quantities rather than geometric ones, meaning they are not affected by small perturbations. Besides their impact on fundamental science, TIs may lead to sophisticated applications in quantum devices and spintronics.

© 2013 Optical Society of America