The topological property in the quantum states is a very interesting topic in physics, and the research on topological state has won two Nobel Prize for physics (Quantum Hall effect and Fractional Quantum Hall Effect). The experimental research and application on topological quantum state has been greatly restricted due to its requirement for the extreme high magnetic field and extremely low temperatures all along. In 2008, the first discovery of strong topological insulator realized the quantum topological properties in the environment of the zero magnetic fields. In 2009, the Study Group on surface and interface quantum phenomena and control of Department of Physics at ShanghaiJiaoTongUniversitycooperated with Department of Physics at PrincetonUniversity, and was the first to theoretically propose and experimentally realize the new topological-insulator class with a single Dirac cone which has the simplest electronic structure. Based on this, using the methods for surface sciences, they conducted the artificial quantum control to the surface electronic state of the topological insulator, which was the first realization of topological electronic state at the room temperature. These research results offered the possibility for the application of the topological insulator in spin electronics and quantum computing. The research was original in the world and thus in a leading position.

The paper based on the results above has been published in the top international science journals “Nature”(Nature, Impact Factor, 31.4) and “Nature Physics”(Nature Physics, Impact Factor, 16.8).

Paper titles are as follows:

　　(1)D. Hsieh, Y. Xia, D. Qian, L. Wray, J. H. Dil, F. Meier, J. Osterwalder, L. Patthey, J. G. Checkelsky, N. P. Ong, A. V. Fedorov, H. Lin, A. Bansil, D. Grauer, Y. S. Hor, R. J. Cava & M. Z. Hasan

　　“A tunable topological insulator in the spin helical Dirac transport regime”

　　Nature 460, 1101 (2009)

　　(2)Y. Xia, D. Qian, D. Hsieh, L.Wray, A. Pal, H. Lin, A. Bansil, D. Grauer, Y. S. Hor, R. J. Cava

　　and M. Z. Hasan

　　“Observation of a large-gap topological-insulator class with a single Dirac cone on the surface”　　Nature Physics 5, 398 (2009)