Showing papers on "Brillouin zone published in 2013"
TL;DR: In this article, the topological properties of Bloch bands in one-dimensional optical lattices were investigated using Bloch oscillations and Ramsey interferometry, and the Zak phase obtained by cold atoms moving across the Brillouin zone was extracted.
Abstract: Geometric phases that characterize the topological properties of Bloch bands play a fundamental role in the band theory of solids. Here we report on the measurement of the geometric phase acquired by cold atoms moving in one-dimensional optical lattices. Using a combination of Bloch oscillations and Ramsey interferometry, we extract the Zak phase—the Berry phase gained during the adiabatic motion of a particle across the Brillouin zone—which can be viewed as an invariant characterizing the topological properties of the band. For a dimerized lattice, which models polyacetylene, we measure a difference of the Zak phase’ Zak D 0:97(2) for the two possible polyacetylene phases with different dimerization. The two dimerized phases therefore belong to different topological classes, such that for a filled band, domain walls have fractional quantum numbers. Our work establishes a new general approach for probing the topological structure of Bloch bands in optical lattices.
881 citations
TL;DR: Micrometer-scale angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of mechanically exfoliated and chemical-vapor-deposition-grown crystals provides direct evidence for the shifting of the valence band maximum from Γ to K, for the case of MoS2 having more than one layer, to the case as predicted by density functional theory.
Abstract: We report on the evolution of the thickness-dependent electronic band structure of the two-dimensional layered-dichalcogenide molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Micrometer-scale angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of mechanically exfoliated and chemical-vapor-deposition-grown crystals provides direct evidence for the shifting of the valence band maximum from Γ to K, for the case of MoS2 having more than one layer, to the case of single-layer MoS2, as predicted by density functional theory. This evolution of the electronic structure from bulk to few-layer to monolayer MoS2 had earlier been predicted to arise from quantum confinement. Furthermore, one of the consequences of this progression in the electronic structure is the dramatic increase in the hole effective mass, in going from bulk to monolayer MoS2 at its Brillouin zone center, which is known as the cause for the decreased carrier mobility of the monolayer form compared to that of bulk MoS2.
475 citations
TL;DR: First-principles calculations are used to show that field-gated silicene possesses two gapped Dirac cones exhibiting nearly 100% spin-polarization, situated at the corners of the Brillouin zone, and a design for asilicene-based spin-filter that should enable the spin- polarization of an output current to be switched electrically, without switching external magnetic fields is proposed.
Abstract: Silicene is a one-atom-thick two-dimensional crystal of silicon with a hexagonal lattice structure that is related to that of graphene but with atomic bonds that are buckled rather than flat. This buckling confers advantages on silicene over graphene, because it should, in principle, generate both a band gap and polarized spin-states that can be controlled with a perpendicular electric field. Here we use first-principles calculations to show that field-gated silicene possesses two gapped Dirac cones exhibiting nearly 100% spin-polarization, situated at the corners of the Brillouin zone. Using this fact, we propose a design for a silicene-based spin-filter that should enable the spin-polarization of an output current to be switched electrically, without switching external magnetic fields. Our quantum transport calculations indicate that the proposed designs will be highly efficient (nearly 100% spin-polarization) and robust against weak disorder and edge imperfections. We also propose a Y-shaped spin/valley separator that produces spin-polarized current at two output terminals with opposite spins.
384 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported resonant Raman scattering of MoS2 layers comprising of single, bi, four and seven layers, showing a strong dependence on the layer thickness.
Abstract: We report resonant Raman scattering of MoS2 layers comprising of single, bi, four and seven layers, showing a strong dependence on the layer thickness. Indirect band gap MoS2 in bulk becomes a direct band gap semiconductor in the monolayer form. New Raman modes are seen in the spectra of single- and few-layer MoS2 samples which are absent in the bulk. The Raman mode at similar to 230 cm(-1) appears for two, four and seven layers. This mode has been attributed to the longitudinal acoustic phonon branch at the M point (LA(M)) of the Brillouin zone. The mode at similar to 179 cm(-1) shows asymmetric character for a few-layer sample. The asymmetry is explained by the dispersion of the LA(M) branch along the G-M direction. The most intense spectral region near 455 cm(-1) shows a layer-dependent variation of peak positions and relative intensities. The high energy region between 510 and 645 cm(-1) is marked by the appearance of prominent new Raman bands, varying in intensity with layer numbers. Resonant Raman spectroscopy thus serves as a promising non invasive technique to accurately estimate the thickness of MoS2 layers down to a few atoms thick. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
378 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a combined ab initio calculations and k · p theory based approach was used to derive a low energy effective Hamiltonian for monolayer MoS2 at the K point of the Brillouin zone.
Abstract: We use a combined ab initio calculations and k · p theory based approach to derive a low-energy effective Hamiltonian for monolayer MoS2 at the K point of the Brillouin zone. It captures the features which are present in first-principles calculations but not explained by the theory of Xiao et al. [Phys Rev Lett 108, 196802 (2012)], namely the trigonal warping of the valence and conduction bands, the electron-hole symmetry breaking, and the spin splitting of the conduction band. We also consider other points in the Brillouin zone which might be important for transport properties. Our findings lead to a more quantitative understanding of the properties of this material in the ballistic limit.
365 citations
TL;DR: A figure-of-merit is proposed to fairly compare the performance of Brillouin distributed sensing systems and offers the research community and potential users the possibility to evaluate with an objective metric the real performance gain resulting from any proposed configuration.
Abstract: A thorough analysis of the key factors impacting on the performance of Brillouin distributed optical fiber sensors is presented. An analytical expression is derived to estimate the error on the determination of the Brillouin peak gain frequency, based for the first time on real experimental conditions. This expression is experimentally validated, and describes how this frequency uncertainty depends on measurement parameters, such as Brillouin gain linewidth, frequency scanning step and signal-to-noise ratio. Based on the model leading to this expression and considering the limitations imposed by nonlinear effects and pump depletion, a figure-of-merit is proposed to fairly compare the performance of Brillouin distributed sensing systems. This figure-of-merit offers to the research community and to potential users the possibility to evaluate with an objective metric the real performance gain resulting from any proposed configuration.
318 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the structural stability and electronic band structure of all three copper oxide compounds were investigated using ab initio methods within the framework of density functional theory and consider different exchange correlation functionals.
Abstract: The $p$-type semiconductor copper oxide has three distinct phases Cu${}_{2}$O, CuO, and Cu${}_{4}$O${}_{3}$ with different morphologies and oxidation states of the copper ions. We investigate the structural stability and electronic band structure of all three copper oxide compounds using ab initio methods within the framework of density functional theory and consider different exchange correlation functionals. While the local density approximation (LDA) fails to describe the semiconducting states of CuO and Cu${}_{4}$O${}_{3}$, the $\mathrm{LDA}+U$ and HSE06 hybrid functional describe both compounds as indirect semiconductors. Using the HSE06 hybrid functional we calculate the electronic band structure in the full Brillouin zone for all three copper oxide compounds.
299 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the equivalence between the two descriptions for two-dimensional solids in the single-particle picture was shown. But the equivalences were not shown for integer quantum Hall systems.
Abstract: Topological insulators can be characterized alternatively in terms of bulk or edge properties. We prove the equivalence between the two descriptions for two-dimensional solids in the single-particle picture. We give a new formulation of the \({\mathbb{Z}_{2}}\)-invariant, which allows for a bulk index not relying on a (two-dimensional) Brillouin zone. When available though, that index is shown to agree with known formulations. The method also applies to integer quantum Hall systems. We discuss a further variant of the correspondence, based on scattering theory.
218 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a general algorithm to reorient bulk unit cells using basis and covariant transformations is presented, which converges the surface energy with respect to slab thickness requiring only one bulk and one relatively thin slab calculation with moderate k-point densities.
177 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured a cone-like dispersion at the Brillouin zone center due to band folding in multilayer silicene, and showed that the π* and π states meet at ∼ 0.25ÕeV below the Fermi level.
Abstract: Multilayer silicene, the silicon analogue of multilayer graphene, grown on silver (111) surfaces, possesses a honeycomb (√3 × √3)R30° reconstruction, observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy at room temperature, past the initial formation of the dominant, 3×3 reconstructed, silicene monolayer. For a few layers silicene film we measure by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy, a cone-like dispersion at the Brillouin zone centre due to band folding. π* and π states meet at ∼0.25 eV below the Fermi level, providing clear evidence of the presence of gapless Dirac fermions.
172 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors theoretically investigate phonon dispersion in twisted bilayer graphene with various rotation angles and find that the stacking order affects the out-of-plane acoustic phonon modes the most.
Abstract: We theoretically investigate phonon dispersion in AA-stacked, AB-stacked, and twisted bilayer graphene with various rotation angles. The calculations are performed using the Born--von Karman model for the intralayer atomic interactions and the Lennard-Jones potential for the interlayer interactions. It is found that the stacking order affects the out-of-plane acoustic phonon modes the most. The difference in the phonon densities of states in the twisted bilayer graphene and in AA- or AB-stacked bilayer graphene appears in the phonon frequency range 90--110 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Twisting bilayer graphene leads to the emergence of different phonon branches---termed hybrid folded phonons---which originate from the mixing of phonon modes from different high-symmetry directions in the Brillouin zone. The frequencies of the hybrid folded phonons depend strongly on the rotation angle and can be used for noncontact identification of the twist angles in graphene samples. The obtained results and the tabulated frequencies of phonons in twisted bilayer graphene are important for the interpretation of experimental Raman data and in determining the thermal conductivity of these material systems.
TL;DR: Using Bogoliubov theory, the excitation spectrum of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensed gas with an equal Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling in the stripe phase is calculated and the emergence of a double gapless band structure is pointed out.
Abstract: Using Bogoliubov theory we calculate the excitation spectrum of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensed gas with an equal Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling in the stripe phase. The emergence of a double gapless band structure is pointed out as a key signature of Bose-Einstein condensation and of the spontaneous breaking of translational invariance symmetry. In the long wavelength limit the lower and upper branches exhibit, respectively, a clear spin and density nature. For wave vectors close to the first Brillouin zone, the lower branch acquires an important density character responsible for the divergent behavior of the structure factor and of the static response function, reflecting the occurrence of crystalline order. The sound velocities are calculated as functions of the Raman coupling for excitations propagating orthogonal and parallel to the stripes. Our predictions provide new perspectives for the identification of supersolid phenomena in ultracold atomic gases.
TL;DR: In this paper, an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study was performed on SmB6 to elucidate elements of the electronic structure relevant to the possible occurrence of a topological Kondo insulator state.
Abstract: Recent theoretical calculations and experimental results suggest that the strongly correlated material SmB6 may be a realization of a topological Kondo insulator. We have performed an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study on SmB6 in order to elucidate elements of the electronic structure relevant to the possible occurrence of a topological Kondo insulator state. The obtained electronic structure in the whole three-dimensional momentum space reveals one electron-like 5d bulk band centered at the X point of the bulk Brillouin zone that is hybridized with strongly correlated f electrons, as well as the opening of a Kondo band gap (Delta(B) similar to 20 meV) at low temperature. In addition, we observe electron-like bands forming three Fermi surfaces at the center Gamma point and boundary (X) over bar point of the surface Brillouin zone. These bands are not expected from calculations of the bulk electronic structure, and their observed dispersion characteristics are consistent with surface states. Our results suggest that the unusual low-temperature transport behavior of SmB6 is likely to be related to the pronounced surface states sitting inside the band hybridization gap and/or the presence of a topological Kondo insulating state.
TL;DR: In this article, a method for conducting fast Brillouin optical time domain analysis for dynamic sensing of optical fibers is presented, which includes the following stages: injecting a pump pulse signal into the first end of an optical fiber and a probe signal into a second end of the optical fiber, wherein the probe and the pump pulse signals exhibit a frequency difference between them that is appropriate for an occurrence of a Brillourin effect; alternating the frequency of either the probe or the pulse signals, so as the alternated signal exhibits a series of signal sections, each signal section having a pred
Abstract: A method for conducting fast Brillouin optical time domain analysis for dynamic sensing of optical fibers is provided herein The method includes the following stages: injecting a pump pulse signal into a first end of an optical fiber and a probe signal into a second end of the optical fiber, wherein the probe and the pump pulse signals exhibit a frequency difference between them that is appropriate for an occurrence of a Brillouin effect; alternating the frequency of either the probe or the pulse signals, so as the alternated signal exhibits a series of signal sections, each signal section having a predefined common duration and a different frequency; measuring the Brillouin probe gain for each one of the alternating frequencies; and extracting physical properties of the optical fiber throughout its length at sample points associated with the sampled time and the frequencies, based on the measured Brillouin probe gain
TL;DR: The steady-state phases of a driven-dissipative Bose-Hubbard model are determined, describing, e.g., an array of coherently pumped nonlinear cavities with a finite photon lifetime, and a tunneling-induced transition between monostable and bistable phases is shown.
Abstract: We determine the steady-state phases of a driven-dissipative Bose-Hubbard model, describing, e.g., an array of coherently pumped nonlinear cavities with a finite photon lifetime. Within a mean-field master equation approach using exact quantum solutions for the one-site problem, we show that the system exhibits a tunneling-induced transition between monostable and bistable phases. We characterize the corresponding quantum correlations, highlighting the essential differences with respect to the equilibrium case. We also find collective excitations with a flat energy-momentum dispersion over the entire Brillouin zone that trigger modulational instabilities at specific wave vectors.
TL;DR: In this article, an elastic analog of graphene is introduced and analyzed, which consists of a honeycomb arrangement of spring-mass resonators attached to a thin elastic layer, and the propagation properties of flexural waves along it is studied.
Abstract: An elastic analog of graphene is introduced and analyzed. The system consists of a honeycomb arrangement of spring-mass resonators attached to a thin elastic layer, and the propagation properties of flexural waves along it is studied. The band-structure calculation shows the presence of Dirac points near the $K$ point of the Brillouin zone. Analytical expressions are found for both Dirac frequency and velocity as a function of the resonator's parameters. Finally, the bounded modes of infinitely long ribbons of this honeycomb arrangement are analyzed. The presence of edge states, which are studied using multiple scattering theory, is shown. It is concluded that these structures can be used to control the propagation of flexural waves in thin plates.
TL;DR: The spin-wave dispersion relation is asymmetric with respect to wave vector inversion for a variety of ferromagnetic films with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions and different crystallographic classes and it is predicted that, for non-zero wave vectors, the resonance frequency and resonance field can increase or decrease depending on thespin-wave vector orientation.
Abstract: We have developed a theory that describes the spin-wave spectra of ferromagnetic films with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions. In agreement with recent experiments (Zakeri et al 2010 Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 137203), we demonstrate that the spin-wave dispersion relation is asymmetric with respect to wave vector inversion for a variety of ferromagnetic films with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions and different crystallographic classes. It is also predicted that, for non-zero wave vectors, the resonance frequency and resonance field can increase or decrease depending on the spin-wave vector orientation. We provide explicit formulas for the spin-wave dispersion relation and its asymmetry, as well as for the dynamic susceptibility for a film under microwave excitation, that can be used to understand ferromagnetic resonance as well as Brillouin light scattering experiments in these classes of magnetic thin films.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that this depletion effect can be precisely modelled and strict guidelines can be enunciated from the model to make the impact of depletion negligible, for any type and any length of fiber.
Abstract: Energy transfer between the interacting waves in a distributed Brillouin sensor can result in a distorted measurement of the local Brillouin gain spectrum, leading to systematic errors It is demonstrated that this depletion effect can be precisely modelled This has been validated by experimental tests in an excellent quantitative agreement Strict guidelines can be enunciated from the model to make the impact of depletion negligible, for any type and any length of fiber
TL;DR: An ab initio dynamical thermal conductivity is obtained for the first time by combining simultaneous diagonalization of the collision kernel of the Boltzmann equation and a symmetry crystal class operator with density functional calculations.
Abstract: The frequency dependent phonon Boltzmann equation is transformed to an integral equation over the irreducible part of the Brillouin zone. Simultaneous diagonalization of the collision kernel of that equation and a symmetry crystal class operator allow us to obtain a spectral representation of the lattice thermal conductivity valid at finite frequency. Combining this approach with density functional calculations, an ab initio dynamical thermal conductivity is obtained for the first time. The static thermal conductivity is also obtained as a particular case. The method is applied to C, Si, and Mg2Si and excellent agreement is obtained with the available static thermal conductivity measurements.
TL;DR: Chen et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the existence of the Dirac cone in silicene on an Ag(111) surface, using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory to obtain the band structure.
Abstract: We investigate the currently debated issue of the existence of the Dirac cone in silicene on an Ag(111) surface, using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory to obtain the band structure. By unfolding the band structure in the Brillouin zone of a supercell to that of a primitive cell, followed by projecting onto Ag and silicene subsystems, we demonstrate that the Dirac cone in silicene on Ag(111) is destroyed. Our results clearly indicate that the linear dispersions observed in both angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy [P. Vogt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 155501 (2012)] and scanning tunneling spectroscopy [L. Chen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 056804 (2012)] come from the Ag substrate and not from silicene.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce the notion of topological order in insulators as an obstruction to define the Bloch wave functions over the whole Brillouin Zone using a single phase convention.
TL;DR: The effective Dirac Hamiltonian is derived and it is shown that the corresponding spinor eigenstates represent Dirac-like massless bosonic excitations that present similar effects to electrons in graphene, such as a nontrivial Berry phase and the absence of backscattering off smooth inhomogeneities.
Abstract: We consider a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice of metallic nanoparticles, each supporting a localized surface plasmon, and study the quantum properties of the collective plasmons resulting from the near-field dipolar interaction between the nanoparticles. We analytically investigate the dispersion, the effective Hamiltonian, and the eigenstates of the collective plasmons for an arbitrary orientation of the individual dipole moments. When the polarization points close to the normal to the plane, the spectrum presents Dirac cones, similar to those present in the electronic band structure of graphene. We derive the effective Dirac Hamiltonian for the collective plasmons and show that the corresponding spinor eigenstates represent Dirac-like massless bosonic excitations that present similar effects to electrons in graphene, such as a nontrivial Berry phase and the absence of backscattering off smooth inhomogeneities. We further discuss how one can manipulate the Dirac points in the Brillouin zone and open a gap in the collective plasmon dispersion by modifying the polarization of the localized surface plasmons, paving the way for a fully tunable plasmonic analogue of graphene.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of the thermo-modulational nonlinearity of gold on the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons guided on gold nanowires were investigated.
Abstract: Starting from first principles, we theoretically model the nonlinear temporal dynamics of gold-based plasmonic devices resulting from the heating of their metallic components. At optical frequencies, the gold susceptibility is determined by the interband transitions around the X, L points in the first Brillouin zone, and thermo-modulational effects ensue from Fermi smearing of the electronic energy distribution in the conduction band. As a consequence of light-induced heating of the conduction electrons, the optical susceptibility becomes nonlinear. In this paper we describe, for the first time to our knowledge, the effects of the thermo-modulational nonlinearity of gold on the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons guided on gold nanowires. We introduce a novel nonlinear Schr¨ odinger-like equation to describe pulse propagation in such nanowires, and we predict the appearance of an intense spectral red-shift caused by the delayed thermal response.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied a zinc-blende lattice model realizing a time-reversal invariant Weyl semimetal, where the bulk dynamics is described by 12 helical Weyl nodes.
Abstract: Weyl semimetals are gapless three-dimensional topological materials where two bands touch at an even number of points in the Brillouin zone. In this work we study a zinc-blende lattice model realizing a time-reversal invariant Weyl semimetal. The bulk dynamics is described by 12 helical Weyl nodes. Surface states form a peculiar quasi-two-dimensional helical metal fundamentally different from the Dirac form typical for topological insulators. The allowed direction of velocity and spin of low-energy surface excitations are locked to the cubic symmetry axes. The studied system illustrates the general properties of surface states in systems with common crystal symmetries.
TL;DR: In this article, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) was performed on the (111) surface of the topological crystalline insulator SnTe.
Abstract: We have performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on the (111) surface of the topological crystalline insulator SnTe. Distinct from a pair of Dirac-cone surface states across the $\overline{X}$ point of the surface Brillouin zone on the (001) surface, we revealed two types of Dirac-cone surface states each centered at the $\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ and $\overline{M}$ points, which originate from the bulk-band inversion at the $L$ points. We also found that the energy location of the Dirac point and the Dirac velocity are different from each other. This ARPES experiment demonstrates the surface states on different crystal faces of a topological material, and it elucidates how mirror-symmetry-protected Dirac cones of a topological crystalline insulator show up on surfaces with different symmetries.
TL;DR: Using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio $GW$ calculations, the authors unambiguously show that the widely investigated three-dimensional topological insulator Bi${}{2}$Se${}_{3}$ has a direct band gap at the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ point.
Abstract: Using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio $GW$ calculations, we unambiguously show that the widely investigated three-dimensional topological insulator Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$ has a direct band gap at the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ point. Experimentally, this is shown by a three-dimensional band mapping in large fractions of the Brillouin zone. Theoretically, we demonstrate that the valence-band maximum is located at the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ point only if many-body effects are included in the calculation. Otherwise, it is found in a high-symmetry mirror plane away from the zone center.
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of Raman spectroscopy to study twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) is reviewed, and the θ-dependent effects of van Hove singularities in the electronic density of states and phonons in the interior of the graphene Brillouin zone are investigated.
TL;DR: In this paper, a superlattice-induced Raman scattering can be used to probe the phonon dispersion in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG), and the effect reported in this paper is different from the widely studied double-resonance in graphene-related materials in many aspects.
Abstract: Bilayer graphene with a twist angle θ between the layers generates a superlattice structure known as a Moire pattern. This superlattice provides a θ-dependent q wavevector that activates phonons in the interior of the Brillouin zone. Here we show that this superlattice-induced Raman scattering can be used to probe the phonon dispersion in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG). The effect reported here is different from the widely studied double-resonance in graphene-related materials in many aspects, and despite the absence of stacking order in tBLG, layer breathing vibrations (namely ZO’ phonons) are observed.
TL;DR: Using multidimensional kinetic simulations, this work defines here the optimum window in which a Brillouin scheme can be exploited for amplification and compression of short laser pulses over short distances to very high power.
Abstract: Plasma media, by exciting Raman (electron) or Brillouin (ion) waves, have been used to transfer energy from moderately long, high-energy light pulses to short ones. Using multidimensional kinetic simulations, we define here the optimum window in which a Brillouin scheme can be exploited for amplification and compression of short laser pulses over short distances to very high power. We also show that shaping the plasma allows for increasing the efficiency of the process while minimizing other unwanted plasma processes. Moreover, we show that, contrary to what was traditionally thought (i.e., using Brillouin in gases for nanosecond pulse compression), this scheme is able to amplify pulses of extremely short duration.
TL;DR: This work establishes a natural correspondence between the time-reversal invariant topological insulator and the quantum anomalous Hall system, and shows for a class of Chern insulators that the topology can be determined by only measuring Bloch eigenstates at highly symmetric points of the Brillouin zone.
Abstract: Chern insulators are band insulators which exhibit a gap in the bulk and gapless excitations in the edge. Detection of Chern insulators is a serious challenge in cold atoms since the Hall transport measurements are technically unrealistic for neutral atoms. By establishing a natural correspondence between the time-reversal invariant topological insulator and the quantum anomalous Hall system, we show for a class of Chern insulators that the topology can be determined by only measuring Bloch eigenstates at highly symmetric points of the Brillouin zone. Furthermore, we introduce two experimental schemes, including the spin-resolved Bloch oscillation, to carry out the measurement. These schemes are highly feasible under realistic experimental conditions. Our results may provide a powerful tool to detect topological phases in cold atoms.