Kagome edge states under lattice termination, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic order

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sekh, Sajid, Black-Schaffer, Annica M., Ptok, Andrzej
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Sekh, Sajid
Black-Schaffer, Annica M.
Ptok, Andrzej
author_facet Sekh, Sajid
Black-Schaffer, Annica M.
Ptok, Andrzej
contents We study the edge state properties of a two-dimensional kagome lattice using a tight-binding approach, focusing on the role of lattice termination, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic order. In the pristine limit, we show that the existence of localized edge states is highly sensitive to boundary geometry, with certain terminations completely suppressing edge modes. Kane-Mele spin-orbit coupling opens a bulk gap and stabilizes topologically protected helical edge states, yielding a robust $\mathbb{Z}_2$ insulating phase that is insensitive to termination details. In contrast, the combined effect of a Zeeman field and Rashba spin-orbit coupling drives the system into Chern insulating phases, with Chern numbers consistent with the number of chiral edge modes. We further demonstrate that non-coplanar magnetic textures generate multiple Chern phases through finite scalar spin chirality, with Kane-Mele coupling strongly tuning the topological gaps. Our results provide important insights into the tunability of edge states in the kagome lattice, which can be key to designing materials with novel electronic properties and topological phases.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_12223
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Kagome edge states under lattice termination, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic order
Sekh, Sajid
Black-Schaffer, Annica M.
Ptok, Andrzej
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Superconductivity
We study the edge state properties of a two-dimensional kagome lattice using a tight-binding approach, focusing on the role of lattice termination, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic order. In the pristine limit, we show that the existence of localized edge states is highly sensitive to boundary geometry, with certain terminations completely suppressing edge modes. Kane-Mele spin-orbit coupling opens a bulk gap and stabilizes topologically protected helical edge states, yielding a robust $\mathbb{Z}_2$ insulating phase that is insensitive to termination details. In contrast, the combined effect of a Zeeman field and Rashba spin-orbit coupling drives the system into Chern insulating phases, with Chern numbers consistent with the number of chiral edge modes. We further demonstrate that non-coplanar magnetic textures generate multiple Chern phases through finite scalar spin chirality, with Kane-Mele coupling strongly tuning the topological gaps. Our results provide important insights into the tunability of edge states in the kagome lattice, which can be key to designing materials with novel electronic properties and topological phases.
title Kagome edge states under lattice termination, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic order
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Superconductivity
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12223