Introduction to Dirac materials and topological insulators
arXiv:1310.0792 · doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2013.09.012
Abstract
We present a short pedagogical introduction to the physics of Dirac materials, restricted to graphene and two- dimensional topological insulators. We start with a brief reminder of the Dirac and Weyl equations in the particle physics context. Turning to condensed matter systems, semimetallic graphene and various Dirac insulators are introduced, including the Haldane and the Kane-Mele topological insulators. We also discuss briefly experimental realizations in materials with strong spin-orbit coupling.
24 pages, 8 figures; review submitted to topical issue of "Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences (Physique)" devoted to topological insulators and Dirac matter. Pre-publication version; comments are invited