Topological invariants are properties of a system that remain unchanged under continuous deformations, such as stretching or bending, without tearing or gluing. These invariants play a crucial role in classifying phases of matter, especially in systems exhibiting phenomena like the Quantum Hall effect, topological insulators, and topological semimetals. They help us understand how certain physical characteristics, like edge states or surface states, can arise from the underlying topology of a material's electronic structure.
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