Abstract
We consider the classical ballistic dynamics of massless electrons on the conducting surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator, influenced by random variations in the surface height. By solving the geodesic equation and the Boltzmann equation in the limit of shallow deformations, we obtain the scattering cross section and the conductivity , for arbitrary anisotropic dispersion relation. At large surface electron densities this geodesic scattering mechanism (with ) is more effective at limiting the surface conductivity than electrostatic potential scattering.
- Received 8 July 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.085312
©2010 American Physical Society
Synopsis
A bumpy road
Published 3 September 2010
Analog of gravitational lensing on the surface of a topological insulator.
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