topological insulator
top-oh-LOJ-ih-kul in-SOO-lay-ter
ˌtɒpəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ɪnˈsjuːleɪtərListen
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Dictionary meaning
a quantum material that behaves as an electrical insulator in its bulk interior but supports highly conducting metallic states on its surface or edges, protected by the topological properties of the bulk electronic band structure against backscattering from non-magnetic impurities and crystal defects; topological insulators arise when spin-orbit coupling inverts the band gap of a material, producing surface states whose existence is guaranteed by a topological invariant rather than by the specifics of the surface chemistry; materials including bismuth selenide and bismuth telluride exhibit topological insulator behaviour, with potential applications in low-power spintronics, quantum computing, and topological quantum field devices
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