Origin of the Electron-Phonon Interaction of Topological Semimetal Surfaces Measured with Helium Atom Scattering

He atom scattering has been demonstrated to be a sensitive probe of the electron-phonon interaction parameter lambda at metal and metal-overlayer surfaces. Here it is shown that the theory linking lambda to the thermal attenuation of atom scattering spectra (the Debye-Waller factor) can be applied to topological semimetal surfaces, such as the quasi-one-dimensional charge-density-wave system Bi(114) and the layered pnictogen chalcogenides. The electron phonon coupling, as determined for several topological insulators belonging to the class of bismuth chalcogenides, suggests a dominant contribution of the surface quantum well states over the Dirac electrons in terms of lambda.