Quantized electric multipole insulators
07 Jul 2017-Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science)-Vol. 357, Iss: 6346, pp 61-66
TL;DR: This work introduces a paradigm in which “nested” Wilson loops give rise to topological invariants that have been overlooked and opens a venue for the expansion of the classification of topological phases of matter.
Abstract: The Berry phase provides a modern formulation of electric polarization in crystals. We extend this concept to higher electric multipole moments and determine the necessary conditions and minimal models for which the quadrupole and octupole moments are topologically quantized electromagnetic observables. Such systems exhibit gapped boundaries that are themselves lower-dimensional topological phases. Furthermore, they host topologically protected corner states carrying fractional charge, exhibiting fractionalization at the boundary of the boundary. To characterize these insulating phases of matter, we introduce a paradigm in which “nested” Wilson loops give rise to topological invariants that have been overlooked. We propose three realistic experimental implementations of this topological behavior that can be immediately tested. Our work opens a venue for the expansion of the classification of topological phases of matter.
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TL;DR: In this article , it was shown that the edge quantum conditional mutual information (QMI) is the natural nonlocal order parameter for topological superconductors in one dimension as well as in quasi one-dimensional geometries.
Abstract: Identifying entanglement-based order parameters characterizing topological systems, in particular topological superconductors and topological insulators, has remained a major challenge for the physics of quantum matter in the last two decades. Here we show that the end-to-end, long-distance, bipartite squashed entanglement between the edges of a many-body system, defined in terms of the edge-to-edge quantum conditional mutual information, is the natural nonlocal order parameter for topological superconductors in one dimension as well as in quasi one-dimensional geometries. For the Kitaev chain in the entire topological phase, the edge squashed entanglement is quantized to log(2) / 2, half the maximal Bell-state entanglement, and vanishes in the trivial phase. Such topological squashed entanglement exhibits the correct scaling at the quantum phase transition, is stable in the presence of interactions, and is robust against disorder and local perturbations. Edge quantum conditional mutual information and edge squashed entanglement defined with respect to different multipartitions discriminate topological superconductors from symmetry breaking magnets, as shown by comparing the fermionic Kitaev chain and the spin-1/2 Ising model in transverse field. For systems featuring multiple topological phases with different numbers of edge modes, like the quasi 1D Kitaev ladder, topological squashed entanglement counts the number of Majorana excitations and distinguishes the different topological phases of the system. In fact, we show that the edge quantum conditional mutual information and the edge squashed entanglement remain valid detectors of topological superconductivity even for systems, like the Kitaev tie with long-range hopping, featuring geometrical frustration and a suppressed
2 citations
06 Oct 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed scanning charge qubit microscopy as a way to visualize dissipative charge carrier dynamics in low-dimensional quantum materials, and demonstrated that it can be used to visualize the dissipative carrier dynamics.
Abstract: The author proposes scanning charge qubit microscopy as a way to visualize dissipative charge carrier dynamics in low-dimensional quantum materials.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a weaker sub-symmetry requirement on perturbations is introduced and explored, and the boundary states are protected by only the sub symmetry, using Su-Schrieffer-Heeger and breathing kagome lattice models.
Abstract: Abstract A hallmark of symmetry-protected topological phases are topological boundary states, which are immune to perturbations that respect the protecting symmetry. It is commonly believed that any perturbation that destroys such a topological phase simultaneously destroys the boundary states. However, by introducing and exploring a weaker sub-symmetry requirement on perturbations, we find that the nature of boundary state protection is in fact more complex. Here we demonstrate that the boundary states are protected by only the sub-symmetry, using Su–Schrieffer–Heeger and breathing kagome lattice models, even though the overall topological invariant and the associated topological phase can be destroyed by sub-symmetry-preserving perturbations. By precisely controlling symmetry breaking in photonic lattices, we experimentally demonstrate such sub-symmetry protection of topological states. Furthermore, we introduce a long-range hopping symmetry in breathing kagome lattices, which resolves a debate on the higher-order topological nature of their corner states. Our results apply beyond photonics and could be used to explore the properties of symmetry-protected topological phases in the absence of full symmetry in different physical contexts.
2 citations
DOI•
TL;DR: In this paper , the emergence of nontrivial corner states in two-dimensional ferroelectrics is mapped out and remarkably demonstrated that ferroelectricity and corner states are coupled together by crystallo-graphic symmetry to realize the electric control of higher-order topology.
Abstract: The interplay between ferroelectricity and band topology can give rise to a wide range of both fundamental and applied research. Here, we map out the emergence of nontrivial corner states in two-dimensional ferroelectrics, and remarkably demonstrate that ferroelectricity and corner states are coupled together by crystallo-graphic symmetry to realize the electric control of higher-order topology. Implemented by density functional theory, we identify a series of experimentally synthesized two-dimensional ferroelectrics, such as In 2 Se 3 , BN bilayers, and SnS, as realistic material candidates for the proposed ferroelectric higher-order topological insulators. Our work not only sheds new light on traditional ferroelectric materials but also opens an avenue to bridge the higher-order topology and ferroelectricity that provides a nonvolatile handle to manipulate the topology in next-generation electronic devices.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors proposed a topological beam emitter structure that takes advantage of submicrometer footprint size, small divergence angle, high efficiency, and adaptable beam shaping capability.
Abstract: Nanophotonic light emitters are key components in numerous application areas because of their compactness and versatility. Here, we propose a topological beam emitter structure that takes advantage of submicrometer footprint size, small divergence angle, high efficiency, and adaptable beam shaping capability. The proposed structure consists of a topological junction of two guided-mode resonance gratings inducing a leaky Jackiw-Rebbi state resonance. The leaky Jackiw-Rebbi state leads to in-plane optical confinement with funnel-like energy flow and enhanced emission probability, resulting in highly efficient optical beam emission. In addition, the structure allows adaptable beam shaping for any desired positive definite profiles by means of Dirac mass distribution control, which can be directly encoded in lattice geometry parameters. Therefore, the proposed approach provides highly desirable properties for efficient micro–light emitters and detectors in various applications including display, solid-state light detection and ranging, laser machining, label-free sensors, optical interconnects, and telecommunications.
2 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, the Hall voltage of a two-dimensional electron gas, realized with a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor, was measured and it was shown that the Hall resistance at particular, experimentally well-defined surface carrier concentrations has fixed values which depend only on the fine-structure constant and speed of light, and is insensitive to the geometry of the device.
Abstract: Measurements of the Hall voltage of a two-dimensional electron gas, realized with a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, show that the Hall resistance at particular, experimentally well-defined surface carrier concentrations has fixed values which depend only on the fine-structure constant and speed of light, and is insensitive to the geometry of the device. Preliminary data are reported.
5,619 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the Hall conductance of a two-dimensional electron gas has been studied in a uniform magnetic field and a periodic substrate potential, where the Kubo formula is written in a form that makes apparent the quantization when the Fermi energy lies in a gap.
Abstract: The Hall conductance of a two-dimensional electron gas has been studied in a uniform magnetic field and a periodic substrate potential $U$. The Kubo formula is written in a form that makes apparent the quantization when the Fermi energy lies in a gap. Explicit expressions have been obtained for the Hall conductance for both large and small $\frac{U}{\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}}$.
4,811 citations
TL;DR: A two-dimensional condensed-matter lattice model is presented which exhibits a nonzero quantization of the Hall conductance in the absence of an external magnetic field, and exhibits the so-called "parity anomaly" of (2+1)-dimensional field theories.
Abstract: A two-dimensional condensed-matter lattice model is presented which exhibits a nonzero quantization of the Hall conductance ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{xy}}$ in the absence of an external magnetic field. Massless fermions without spectral doubling occur at critical values of the model parameters, and exhibit the so-called "parity anomaly" of (2+1)-dimensional field theories.
4,606 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for determining the optimally localized set of generalized Wannier functions associated with a set of Bloch bands in a crystalline solid is presented, which is suitable for use in connection with conventional electronic-structure codes.
Abstract: We discuss a method for determining the optimally localized set of generalized Wannier functions associated with a set of Bloch bands in a crystalline solid. By ''generalized Wannier functions'' we mean a set of localized orthonormal orbitals spanning the same space as the specified set of Bloch bands. Although we minimize a functional that represents the total spread Sigma(n)(r(2))(n) - (r)(n)(2) of the Wannier functions in real space, our method proceeds directly from the Bloch functions as represented on a mesh of k points, and carries out the minimization in a space of unitary matrices U-mn((k)) describing the rotation among the Bloch bands at each k point. The method is thus suitable for use in connection with conventional electronic-structure codes. The procedure also returns the total electric polarization as well as the location of each Wannier center. Sample results for Si, GaAs, molecular C2H4, and LiCl will be presented.
3,155 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that physically $\ensuremath{\Delta}P can be interpreted as a displacement of the center of charge of the Wannier functions.
Abstract: We consider the change in polarization \ensuremath{\Delta}P which occurs upon making an adiabatic change in the Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian of the solid. A simple expression for \ensuremath{\Delta}P is derived in terms of the valence-band wave functions of the initial and final Hamiltonians. We show that physically \ensuremath{\Delta}P can be interpreted as a displacement of the center of charge of the Wannier functions. The formulation is successfully applied to compute the piezoelectric tensor of GaAs in a first-principles pseudopotential calculation.
3,136 citations