Topological Edge States with Zero Hall Conductivity in a Dimerized Hofstadter Model
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Contributors
Abstract
The Hofstadter model is a simple yet powerful Hamiltonian to study quantum Hall physics in a lattice system, manifesting its essential topological states. Lattice dimerization in the Hofstadter model opens an energy gap at half filling. Here we show that even if the ensuing insulator has a Chern number equal to zero, concomitantly a doublet of edge states appear that are pinned at specific momenta. We demonstrate that these states are topologically protected by inversion symmetry in specific one-dimensional cuts in momentum space, define and calculate the corresponding invariants, and identify a platform for the experimental detection of these novel topological states.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 216805 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 115 |
Issue number | 21 |
Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 2015 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |