Topological insulators, topological superconductors and Weyl fermion semimetals: discoveries, perspectives and outlooks. (3rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hasan, M Zahid; Xu, Su-Yang; Bian, Guang
• Is Part Of: Physica scripta. Volume T164(2015:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-03
• Subjects: topological insulators -- topological superconductors -- quantum Hall effects; Physics -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-8949/2015/T164/014001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-8949

Abstract

Abstract: Unlike string theory, topological physics in lower dimensional condensed matter systems is an experimental reality since the bulk-boundary correspondence can be probed experimentally in lower dimensions. In addition, recent experimental discoveries of non-quantum-Hall-like topological insulators, topological superconductors, Weyl semimetals and other topological states of matter also signal a clear departure from the quantum-Hall-effect-like transport paradigm that has dominated the field since the 1980s. It is these new forms of matter that enabled realizations of topological-Dirac, Weyl cones, helical-Cooper-pairs, Fermi-arc-quasiparticles and other emergent phenomena in fine-tuned photoemission (ARPES) experiments since ARPES experiments directly allow the study of bulk-boundary (topological) correspondence. In this proceeding we provide a brief overview of the key experiments and discuss our perspectives regarding the new research frontiers enabled by these experiments. Taken collectively, we argue in favor of the emergence of 'topological-condensed-matter-physics' in laboratory experiments for which a variety of theoretical concepts over the last 80 years paved the way.