Topological insulators, topological superconductors and Weyl fermion semimetals: Discoveries, perspectives and outlooks

M. Zahid Hasan, Su Yang Xu, Guang Bian

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

126 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number014001
JournalPhysica Scripta
Volume2015
Issue numberT164
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015
Event156th Nobel Symposium on New Forms of Matter: Topological Insulators and Superconductors - Lidingo, Sweden
Duration: Jun 12 2014Jun 15 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

  • quantum Hall effects
  • topological insulators
  • topological superconductors

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