Interaction-Induced Criticality in Z2 Topological Insulators

We study interaction effects in topological insulators with strong spin-orbit coupling. We find that the interplay of nontrivial topology and Coulomb repulsion induces a novel critical state on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator. Remarkably, this interaction-induced criticality, characterized by a universal value of conductivity, emerges without any adjustable parameters. Further, we predict a direct quantum-spin-Hall transition in two dimensions that occurs via a similar critical state.