Impurity scattering in the bulk of topological insulators

Abstract

We study in this paper time-reversal δ-impurity scattering effects in the bulk of topological insulators (TI) in two and three dimensions. Specifically we consider how impurity scattering strength is affected by the bulk band structure of topological insulators. An interesting band inversion effect associated with the change of the system from ordinary to topological insulator is pointed out. Experimental consequences of our findings are discussed. © 2012 American Physical Society.