# Scattering of Electrons between Edge and Two-Dimensional States of a Two-Dimensional Topological Insulator and the Conductivity of the Topological Insulator Strip in a Metallic State

## TL;DR

This paper investigates electron scattering in 2D topological insulators, revealing that edge state electron lifetimes can surpass bulk electron mean free times, significantly influencing the strip's conductivity.

## Contribution

It demonstrates that edge state electron lifetimes can be much longer than bulk electron mean free times, highlighting the dominant role of edge states in conductivity.

## Key findings

- Edge electron lifetime exceeds bulk mean free time.
- Conductivity is primarily determined by edge states.
- Coulomb impurity scattering affects electron lifetime.

## Abstract

The lifetime of electrons on edge states of a two-dimensional topological insulator against the background of an allowed two-dimensional band has been determined. It has been shown that this time in the case of scattering on Coulomb impurities can be significantly larger than the mean free time of two-dimensional electrons. As a result, the conductivity of the metallic two-dimensional topological insulator strip can be determined primarily by edge states.