Classification of Interacting Electronic Topological Insulators in Three Dimensions

Abstract

Interacting and Topological Topological insulators (TIs), which have a bandgap and a robust conducting surface state protected by time-reversal symmetry, are typically materials with weak electron-electron interaction and are well-described by band theory. A major experimental goal has been to observe such symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in interacting systems. Wang et al. (p. 629 ) used a theoretical approach to classify SPT phases of interacting fermions in three dimensions and found six other phases in addition to the noninteracting ones. The results lay the groundwork for future microscopic models and inform the experimental search for such materials.