Electron-phonon scattering in topological insulators

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding how electron-phonon interactions affect the surface states of strong topological insulators, focusing on their temperature-dependent properties.

Contribution

It introduces a model combining elastic continuum phonons with Dirac surface fermions to analyze electron-phonon interactions in topological insulators.

Findings

Temperature influences quasi-particle lifetime in photoemission.

Surface resistivity varies with temperature due to electron-phonon coupling.

The model provides insights into phonon effects on topological surface states.

Abstract

We formulate and apply a theory of electron-phonon interactions for the surface state of a strong topological insulator. Phonons are modelled using an isotropic elastic continuum theory with stress-free boundary conditions and interact with the Dirac surface fermions via the deformation potential. We discuss the temperature dependence of the quasi-particle lifetime in photoemission and of the surface resistivity.