Topological insulators are materials that insulate in their bulk, but conduct electric current on their surface. The conducting states on the surface are, to some extent, protected by topological properties of the electronic band structure. I will discuss the extent of this protection, focusing on the effect of disorder on insulators known as "weak topological insulators".

 

The talk will be mostly based on works carried out with Yuval Baum, Kobi Kraus and Zohar Ringel. It will NOT assume prior familiarity with the field of topological insulators.