Optical Properties of Bismuth-Based Topological Insulators [electronic resource] /
Di Pietro, Paola.author.
Topological Insulators (TIs)  are insulators in the bulk, but have exotic metallic states at their surfaces. The topology, associated with the electronic wavefunctions of these systems, changes when passing from the bulk to the surface.This work studies, by means of infrared spectroscopy, the low energy optical conductivity of Bismuth based TIs in order to identify the extrinsic charge contribution of the bulk and to separate it from the intrinsic contribution of the surface state carriers. The extensive results presented in this thesis definitely shows the 2D character of the carriers in Bismuth-based topological insulators. The experimental apparatus and the FTIR technique, the theory of optical properties and Surface Plasmon Polaritons, as well as sample preparation of both crystals and thin films, and the analysis procedures are thoroughly described.
Description based upon print version of record.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
List of Abbreviations -- Supervisor's Foreword -- 1 Introduction to the Topological Insulators and State of the Art -- 2 Experimental Technique, Sample Fabrication and Models for Data Analysis -- 3 Results and Analysis.
Topological Insulators (TIs)  are insulators in the bulk, but have exotic metallic states at their surfaces. The topology, associated with the electronic wavefunctions of these systems, changes when passing from the bulk to the surface.This work studies, by means of infrared spectroscopy, the low energy optical conductivity of Bismuth based TIs in order to identify the extrinsic charge contribution of the bulk and to separate it from the intrinsic contribution of the surface state carriers. The extensive results presented in this thesis definitely shows the 2D character of the carriers in Bismuth-based topological insulators. The experimental apparatus and the FTIR technique, the theory of optical properties and Surface Plasmon Polaritons, as well as sample preparation of both crystals and thin films, and the analysis procedures are thoroughly described.
Semiconductors.
Optical materials.
Electronic materials.
Solid state physics.
Materials—Surfaces.
Thin films.
Materials science.
Semiconductors.
Optical and Electronic Materials.
Solid State Physics.
Surfaces and Interfaces, Thin Films.
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials.