Infrared studies of topological insulator systems
ORAL
Abstract
The theoretical prediction, and subsequent experimental realization, of topological insulator (TI) systems, has vaulted this new class of materials to the vanguard of condensed matter physics. Since their discovery, we have carried out a number of infrared studies on various TI systems, including Bi$_2$Se$_3$, Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$, and Bi$_{2-x}$Sb$_x$Te$_{3-y}$Se$_y$ crystals as well as Bi$_2$Se$_3$ and (Bi,Sb)$_2$Te$_3$ thin films. A key element of these works is the revelation that the infrared response of Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ crystals and (Bi,Sb)$_2$Te$_3$ thin films possess a significant, or even dominant, component from the topologically protected surface states. I will review these works and discuss future prospects of measuring the surface state response through optical spectroscopy techniques
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