The \(\mathbb{Z}_{2}\) index of disordered topological insulators with time reversal symmetry (Q2795537)

The authors study disordered topological insulators with time reversal symmetry. Relying on the noncommutative index theorem which relates the Chern number to the projection onto the Fermi sea and the magnetic flux operator, they give a precise definition of the \(\mathbb{Z}_{2}\) index which is a noncommutative analogue of the Atiyah-Singer \(\mathbb{Z}_{2}\) index. It is proved that the noncommutative \(\mathbb{Z}_{2}\) index is robust against any time reversal symmetric perturbation including disorder potentials as long as the spectral gap at the Fermi level does not close.