Topological fragility and bilinear magnetoelectric resistance in gapless edge states
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866910255034662912 |
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| author | Gorini, Cosimo Bard, Matthieu Gueron, Sophie Bouchiat, Hélène Vignale, Giovanni |
| author_facet | Gorini, Cosimo Bard, Matthieu Gueron, Sophie Bouchiat, Hélène Vignale, Giovanni |
| contents | In time-reversal symmetric systems such as topological and higher-order topological insulators, 1D spin-momentum locked edge and hinge states are theoretically ``perfectly conducting'', being immune to backscattering by non-magnetic disorder. Here, we reveal a fundamental ``topological fragility'': these states exhibit a bilinear magnetoelectric resistance significantly larger than in 2D systems. This effect requires two ingredients: (i) spin-momentum locking, which maximizes time-reversal symmetry breaking in the non-linear regime, and (ii) random spin-orbit interaction -- the same mechanism behind Elliott - Yafet spin relaxation in heavy elements. Together, these generate a robust backscattering channel when a modest external magnetic field is applied. Our theory requires no gap opening or complex many-body effects, offering a simple and general mechanism that quantitatively explains recent observations in Bismuth hinge states. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_25774 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Topological fragility and bilinear magnetoelectric resistance in gapless edge states Gorini, Cosimo Bard, Matthieu Gueron, Sophie Bouchiat, Hélène Vignale, Giovanni Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics In time-reversal symmetric systems such as topological and higher-order topological insulators, 1D spin-momentum locked edge and hinge states are theoretically ``perfectly conducting'', being immune to backscattering by non-magnetic disorder. Here, we reveal a fundamental ``topological fragility'': these states exhibit a bilinear magnetoelectric resistance significantly larger than in 2D systems. This effect requires two ingredients: (i) spin-momentum locking, which maximizes time-reversal symmetry breaking in the non-linear regime, and (ii) random spin-orbit interaction -- the same mechanism behind Elliott - Yafet spin relaxation in heavy elements. Together, these generate a robust backscattering channel when a modest external magnetic field is applied. Our theory requires no gap opening or complex many-body effects, offering a simple and general mechanism that quantitatively explains recent observations in Bismuth hinge states. |
| title | Topological fragility and bilinear magnetoelectric resistance in gapless edge states |
| topic | Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.25774 |