Electron properties of topological insulators. The structure of edge states and photogalvanic effects

Integrating the ideas of topology and topological transitions into solid-state physics has led to the theoretical prediction and subsequent experimental discovery of topological insulators, a new class of three- or quasi-two-dimensional dielectric crystalline systems exhibiting stable conducting surface states. This paper briefly reviews the electronic properties of topological insulators. The structure of edge and bulk electronic states in two- and three-dimensional HgTe-based topological insulators is described in particular detail. Recent theoretical and experimental results on the interaction of an electromagnetic field with topological insulators and on edge and surface photogalvanic effects are presented.