One-dimensional Dirac electrons on the surface of weak topological insulators

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Alexander Lau - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Carmine Ortix - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Jeroen Van Den Brink - , Chair of Solid State Theory, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

We show that a class of weak three-dimensional topological insulators feature one-dimensional Dirac electrons on their surfaces. Their hallmark is a linelike energy dispersion along certain directions of the surface Brillouin zone. These one-dimensional Dirac line degeneracies are topologically protected by a symmetry that we refer to as in-plane time-reversal invariance. We show how this invariance leads to Dirac lines in the surface spectrum of stacked Kane-Mele systems and more general models for weak three-dimensional topological insulators.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number085106
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume91
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 11 Feb 2015
Peer-reviewedYes