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Register a new userA Short Course on Topological Insulators: Band-structure topology and edge states in one and two dimensions
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J\\'anos K. Asb\\'oth
Publication date
2015
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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This course-based primer provides newcomers to the field with a concise introduction to some of the core topics in the emerging field of topological band insulators in one and two dimensions. The aim is to provide a basic understanding of edge states, bulk topological invariants, and of the bulk--boundary correspondence with as simple mathematical tools as possible. We use noninteracting lattice models of topological insulators, building gradually on these to arrive from the simplest one-dimensional case (the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model for polyacetylene) to two-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological insulators (the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model for HgTe). In each case the model is introduced first and then its properties are discussed and subsequently generalized. The only prerequisite for the reader is a working knowledge in quantum mechanics, the relevant solid state physics background is provided as part of this self-contained text, which is complemented by end-of-chapter problems.
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The edge states of a two-dimensional quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator form a one-dimensional helical metal which is responsible for the transport property of the QSH insulator. Conceptually, such a one-dimensional helical metal can be attached to any scattering region as the usual metallic leads. We study the analytical property of the scattering matrix for such a conceptual multiterminal scattering problem in the presence of time reversal invariance. As a result, several theorems on the connectivity property of helical edge states in two-dimensional QSH systems as well as surface states of three-dimensional topological insulators are obtained. Without addressing real model details, these theorems, which are phenomenologically obtained, emphasize the general connectivity property of topological edge/surface states from the mere time reversal symmetry restriction.
We investigate the scattering and localization properties of edge and bulk states in a disordered two-dimensional topological insulator when they coexist at the same fermi energy. Due to edge-bulk backscattering (which is not prohibited emph{a priori} by topology or symmetry), Anderson disorder makes the edge and bulk states localized indistinguishably. Two methods are proposed to effectively decouple them and to restore robust transport. The first kind of decouple is from long range disorder, since edge and bulk states are well separated in $k$ space. The second one is from an edge gating, owing to the edge nature of edge states in real space. The latter can be used to electrically tune a system between an Anderson insulator and a topologically robust conductor, i.e., a realization of a topological transistor.
Topological stability of the edge states is investigated for non-Hermitian systems. We examine two classes of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians supporting real bulk eigenenergies in weak non-Hermiticity: SU(1,1) and SO(3,2) Hamiltonians. As an SU(1,1) Hamiltonian, the tight-binding model on the honeycomb lattice with imaginary on-site potentials is examined. Edge states with ReE=0 and their topological stability are discussed by the winding number and the index theorem, based on the pseudo-anti-Hermiticity of the system. As a higher symmetric generalization of SU(1,1) Hamiltonians, we also consider SO(3,2) models. We investigate non-Hermitian generalization of the Luttinger Hamiltonian on the square lattice, and that of the Kane-Mele model on the honeycomb lattice, respectively. Using the generalized Kramers theorem for the time-reversal operator Theta with Theta^2=+1 [M. Sato et al., arXiv:1106.1806], we introduce a time-reversal invariant Chern number from which topological stability of gapless edge modes is argued.
We theoretically study the effect of magnetic moire superlattice on the topological surface states by introducing a continuum model of Dirac electrons with a single Dirac cone moving in the time-reversal symmetry breaking periodic pontential. The Zeeman-type moire potentials generically gap out the moire surface Dirac cones and give rise to isolated flat Chern minibands with Chern number $pm1$. This result provides a promising platform for realizing the time-reversal breaking correlated topological phases. In a $C_6$ periodic potential, when the scalar $U_0$ and Zeeman $Delta_1$ moire potential strengths are equal to each other, we find that energetically the first three bands of $Gamma$-valley moire surface electrons are non-degenerate and realize i) an $s$-orbital model on a honeycomb lattice, ii) a degenerate $p_x,p_y$-orbitals model on a honeycomb lattice, and iii) a hybridized $sd^2$-orbital model on a kagome lattice, where moire surface Dirac cones in these bands emerge. When $U_0 eqDelta_1$, the difference between the two moire potential serves as an effective spin-orbit coupling and opens a topological gap in the emergent moire surface Dirac cones.
We show that band topology can dramatically change the photophysics of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. For systems in which states near the band extrema are of multiple orbitals character and the spinors describing the orbital components (pseudospins) pick up nonzero winding numbers (topological invariants) around the extremal k-point, the optical strength and nature (i.e., helicity) of the excitonic states are dictated by the optical matrix element winding number, a unique and heretofore unrecognized characteristic. We illustrate these findings in three gapped graphene systems - monolayer graphene with inequivalent sublattices and biased bi- and tri-layer graphene, where the pseudospin textures manifest into a unique optical matrix element winding pattern associated with different valley and photon circular polarization. This winding-number physics leads to novel exciton series and optical selection rules, with each valley hosting multiple bright excitons coupled to light of different helicity. This valley-exciton selective circular dichroism can be unambiguously detected using optical spectroscopy.
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