Bulk topological invariants in noninteracting point group symmetric insulators

We survey various quantized bulk physical observables in two- and three-dimensional topological band insulators invariant under translational symmetry and crystallographic point group symmetries (PGS). In two-dimensional insulators, we show that (i) the Chern number of a C sub(n)-invariant insulator...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials physics Condensed matter and materials physics, 2012-09, Vol.86 (11), Article 115112
Hauptverfasser: Fang, Chen, Gilbert, Matthew J., Bernevig, B. Andrei
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:We survey various quantized bulk physical observables in two- and three-dimensional topological band insulators invariant under translational symmetry and crystallographic point group symmetries (PGS). In two-dimensional insulators, we show that (i) the Chern number of a C sub(n)-invariant insulator can be determined, up to a multiple of n, by evaluating the eigenvalues of symmetry operators at high-symmetry points in the Brillouin zone; (ii) the Chern number of a C sub(n)-invariant insulator is also determined, up to a multiple of n, by the C sub(n) eigenvalue of the Slater determinant of a noninteracting many-body system; and (iii) the Chern number vanishes in insulators with dihedral point groups D sub(n), and the quantized electric polarization is a topological invariant for these insulators. In three-dimensional insulators, we show that (i) only insulators with point groups C sub(n), C sub(nh), and S sub(n) PGS can have nonzero 3D quantum Hall coefficient and (ii) only insulators with improper rotation symmetries can have quantized magnetoelectric polarization P sub(3) in the term P sub(3)E times B, the axion term in the electrodynamics of the insulator (medium).
ISSN:1098-0121
1550-235X
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.86.115112