Seminars & Colloquia Calendar

David Vanderbilt - Rutgers University

  Date/Time/Location
Thursday, February 20th, 2:00pm; Hill 705

Title
"Theory of Topological Materials"

In this talk I will give a pedagogical introduction to the theory of "topological insulators," which have been the focus of much recent attention in the condensed matter physics community. I will begin by introducing the basic electronic structure concepts behind topological insulators, starting with an elementary discussion of Berry phases and curvatures.  I will then discuss the "quantum anomalous Hall" phase, and use this as the basic building block for arriving at an understanding of time-reversal invariant 2D ("quantum spin Hall") and 3D ("strong" and "weak") topological insulators.  The connection to edge and surface states will be discussed.  As time permits, I will also introduce other classes of topological materials, including topological crystalline insulators and Weyl semimetals, and review some of the experimental realizations of these topological phases.