= Topological insulator
{wiki}
A <topological insulator> has an insulating bulk electronic spectrum and boundary electronic behavior constrained by a nontrivial bulk band topology and the relevant protecting symmetries. In common three-dimensional time-reversal-invariant examples, the conducting surface can be approximated at low <energy> by a <Dirac cone>. The number of surface cones and the range of the linear approximation depend on the material; boundary conduction and thermal bulk <phonons> therefore need separate state counts.
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