Map of the electrical characteristics of a topological insulator
Topological insulators are a recently discovered type of material that allow electricity to flow easily on their surface, but resist electrical flow through their interiors. The unusual material has been used in experiments that simulate the behavior of exotic particles, and may soon lead to components in advanced computers. This image shows a map of the electrical characteristics of a topological insulator, providing information that is helping physicists to better understand how these novel materials work.
Image courtesy of P Roushan and A Yazdani/Princeton University (2011)
