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Main Authors: Lei, Chao, Mahon, Perry T., MacDonald, Allan H.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.17859
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author Lei, Chao
Mahon, Perry T.
MacDonald, Allan H.
author_facet Lei, Chao
Mahon, Perry T.
MacDonald, Allan H.
contents The electronic ground state of a three-dimensional (3D) band insulator with time-reversal ($Θ$) symmetry or time-reversal times a discrete translation ($ΘT_{1/2}$) symmetry is classified by a $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$-valued topological invariant and characterized by quantized magnetoelectric response. Here we demonstrate by explicit calculation in model $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ topological insulator thin-films that whereas the magnetoelectric response is localized at the surface in the $Θ$ symmetry (nonmagnetic) case, it is nonuniversally partitioned between surface and interior contributions in the $ΘT_{1/2}$ (antiferromagnetic) case, while remaining quantized. Within our model the magnetic field induced polarization arises entirely from an anomalous $\mathscr{N}=0$ Landau level subspace within which the projected Hamiltonian is a generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model whose topological properties are consistent with those of the starting 3D model. We identify a new connection between the ground-state geometry of that 3D model and surface-interior partitioning in thin films.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2311_17859
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Bulk versus surface: Nonuniversal partitioning of the topological magnetoelectric effect
Lei, Chao
Mahon, Perry T.
MacDonald, Allan H.
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Quantum Gases
The electronic ground state of a three-dimensional (3D) band insulator with time-reversal ($Θ$) symmetry or time-reversal times a discrete translation ($ΘT_{1/2}$) symmetry is classified by a $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$-valued topological invariant and characterized by quantized magnetoelectric response. Here we demonstrate by explicit calculation in model $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ topological insulator thin-films that whereas the magnetoelectric response is localized at the surface in the $Θ$ symmetry (nonmagnetic) case, it is nonuniversally partitioned between surface and interior contributions in the $ΘT_{1/2}$ (antiferromagnetic) case, while remaining quantized. Within our model the magnetic field induced polarization arises entirely from an anomalous $\mathscr{N}=0$ Landau level subspace within which the projected Hamiltonian is a generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model whose topological properties are consistent with those of the starting 3D model. We identify a new connection between the ground-state geometry of that 3D model and surface-interior partitioning in thin films.
title Bulk versus surface: Nonuniversal partitioning of the topological magnetoelectric effect
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Quantum Gases
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.17859