缀饰格子中时间反演对称破缺的量子自旋霍尔效应

<正>研究了缀饰格子中的量子自旋霍尔效应,模型中同时考虑了Rashba自旋轨道耦合和交换场的作用.缀饰格子具有简立方对称性,以零能平带和单狄拉克锥结构为主要特点.在缀饰格子中,不论是实现量子自旋霍尔效应还是量子反常霍尔效应,都需要一个不为零的内禀自旋轨道耦合作用来打开一个完全的体能隙,这与石墨烯等六角格子模型有着很大的不同.在交换场破坏了时间反演对称性的情况下,以自旋陈数为标志的量子自旋霍尔效应仍然能够存在,边缘态和极化率的相关结果也证明了这一结论.结果表明自旋陈数比z2拓扑数在表征量子自旋霍尔效应方面有着更广泛的适用范围,相应的结论为利用磁场控制量子自旋霍尔效应提出了一个理论模型和依据.     

声子晶体中的多重拓扑相

研究了圆环型波导依照蜂窝结构排列的声子晶体系统中的拓扑相变.利用晶格结构的点群对称性实现赝自旋,并在圆环中引入旋转气流来打破时间反演对称性.通过紧束缚近似模型计算的解析结果表明,没有引入气流时,调节几何参数,系统存在普通绝缘体和量子自旋霍尔效应绝缘体两个相;引入气流后,可以实现新的时间反演对称性破缺的量子自旋霍尔效应相,而增大气流强度,则可以实现量子反常霍尔效应相.这三个拓扑相可以通过自旋陈数来分类.通过有限元软件模拟了多个系统中边界态的传播,发现不同于量子自旋霍尔效应相,量子反常霍尔相系统的表面只支持一种自旋的边界态,并且它无需时间反演对称性保护.     

自旋陈数理论和时间反演对称破缺的量子自旋霍尔效应

一般认为,量子自旋霍尔效应只有受到时间反演对称性的保护才是稳定的。但是,因为在 实际材料中破坏时间反演对称性的微扰往往无法避免,这种受时间反演对称性保护的量子自旋霍 尔效应在真实环境中并不稳定。本综述将介绍近期在寻找无需时间反演对称性保护的量子自旋霍 尔效应方向上的系列研究进展。我们将证明量子自旋霍尔体系的非平庸拓扑性质在时间反演对称 性被破坏后仍然可以完好存在,并通过一个规范讨论,将边缘态一般性质和体能带的非平庸拓扑 性质联系起来。进一步,将探讨通过人工消除边缘态时间反演对称性而实现稳定的量子自旋霍尔 效应的方案。此外,我们还将介绍自旋陈数理论,自旋陈数是在没有时间反演对称性存在时,表 征量子自旋霍尔体系所处不同拓扑相的有效工具。     

具有大磁晶各向异性能的单层BaPb的室温量子反常霍尔效应

具有巨大应用潜力的二维材料在纳米技术领域引起了人们极大的研究兴趣.基于第一性原理计算,本文预测了二维六角晶格BaPb体系具有室温量子反常霍尔效应.体系磁基态是铁磁半金属态,并且自旋极化的Pb-p轨道导致体系的时间反演对称性破缺.具有非零Chern数(C=1)的单层BaPb中非平庸拓扑性来源于全自旋极化的p_(x,y)轨道形成的二次型非狄拉克能带.不同于之前报道的p_z轨道形成的狄拉克拓扑态很容易被衬底破坏,p_(x,y)轨道形成的σ键非常稳定.当考虑自旋-轨道耦合作用时,二次型的非狄拉克点打开了接近177.39 meV的非平庸带隙.通过反常霍尔电导、陈数、贝里曲率和边缘态的计算,证实了 BaPb非平庸的拓扑性.此外,体系还表现出每个单元52.01 meV的大磁晶各向异性能.     

磁场中的拓扑绝缘体边缘态性质

用数值方法研究了拓扑绝缘体薄膜体系在外加垂直磁场 作用下其边缘态的性质. 磁场的加入通过耦合k+eA, 即Peierls势替换关系和 该作用导致的Zeeman交换场体现在哈密顿量中. 考虑窄条圆环状结构的二维InAs/GaSb/AlSb薄膜量子阱材料, 当其处于拓扑非平庸状态, 即量子自旋霍尔态时, 会出现受时间反演对称性保护的两支简并边缘态, 而在垂直磁场的作用下, 时间反演对称性被破坏, 这时能带将形成一条条的朗道能级, 原来简并的两支边缘态也会分开到朗道能级谱线的两侧, 从电子态密度的空间分布情况则可以看到边缘态分别局域在材料的两个边界. 随着磁场的增大, 位于同一边界上的不同 自旋极化的边缘态将出现分离: 一支仍然局域在边缘, 另一支则随外加磁场的增加而有逐渐演化到材料内部的趋势. 文中还计算了同一边界上的两支边缘态之间的散射, 结果表明由于两个边缘态在空间发生分离, 相互之间的散射被很大的压制, 得到了其散射随磁场增加没有明显变化的结论, 所以磁场并不会增强散射过程, 也没有破坏体拓扑材料的性质, 说明了量子自旋霍尔态在没有时间反演对称的情况下也可以有较强的稳定性.     

磁性拓扑绝缘体与量子反常霍尔效应

量子反常霍尔绝缘体,有时也被称为陈数绝缘体,是不同于普通绝缘体和拓扑绝缘体的一类新的二维绝缘体,该体系具有可被实验观测的特殊物理性质—量子反常霍尔效应。该体系的物态不能用朗道对称性破缺理论来描写,而要用到拓扑物态的概念。它的发现也经历了从反常霍尔效应的内秉物性阐释,到量子自旋霍尔效应与拓扑绝缘体的发现,再到磁性拓扑绝缘体的理论预测与实现,并最终成功实验观测的漫长过程。由于量子反常霍尔效应的实现不需要外加磁场,而此时样品的边缘态可以被看成一根无能耗的理想导线,因此人们对于其将来可能的应用充满了期待。本文将从理论的角度简单综述该领域的发展历程、基本概念、以及相关的材料系统。     

铁磁石墨烯体系的CT不变量子自旋霍尔效应

文章作者在垂直磁场作用下的铁磁石墨烯体系里预言了一种新类型的量子自旋霍尔效应.这量子自旋霍尔效应与自旋轨道耦合无关,体系也不具有时间反演不变性;但是有CT不变(C为电子-空穴变换、T为时间反演变换).由于量子自旋霍尔效应,体系的纵向电阻和自旋霍尔阻出现量子化平台.特别是,自旋霍尔阻的量子化平台有很强的抗杂质干扰能力.     

时间反演对称性破缺系统中的拓扑零能模

Su-Schreiffer-Heeger模型预测了在一维周期晶格的边缘处可能出现零维的拓扑零能模,其能量本征值总是出现在能隙的正中间.本文以半导体微腔阵列中光子和激子在强耦合情况下形成的准粒子为例,通过准粒子的自旋轨道耦合与Zeeman效应,研究了时间反演对称性破缺对拓扑零能模的影响.发现拓扑零能模的能量本征值可以随着自旋轨道耦合强度的变化在整个带隙内移动,自旋相反的模式移动方向相反;在二维微腔阵列中发现了沿着晶格边缘移动的拓扑零能模,提出了一维零能模的概念.由于时间反演对称性的破缺,这种一维拓扑零能模解除了在相反传输方向上的能级的简并,从而在传输过程中出现极强的绕过障碍物的能力.     

基于结构反转二维光子晶体的拓扑相变及拓扑边界态的构建

构建了二维六角蜂窝晶格的两种结构,让散射体和基体材料反转.由于特有的点群对称,该晶格在布里渊区中心具有类比电子体系的p轨道和d轨道.在散射体和基体反转的两种结构中, p轨道和d轨道也直接实现了反转.定量分析了产生轨道反转的原因来自于低频局域共振产生空气带和介质带的反转.通过p轨道和d轨道的宇称特性,构建了类比电子体系量子自旋霍尔效应的赝自旋态.通过Γ点处有效哈密顿量的分析,揭示轨道反转导致的拓扑相变.通过结构的优化,构建了基于赝自旋的拓扑边界态.电磁波仿真模拟和能流矢量分析证明了结构具有电子体系量子自旋霍尔效应的特性,即自旋与传播方向锁定和拓扑保护.结果也证明经典波量子自旋霍尔效应的实现可以不经历带隙关闭的过程.与同类型的研究相比较,本文的结构不需要晶格的缩放,具有设计简单、带隙宽和边界态局域性较强的特点.     

二维介电光子晶体中的赝自旋态与拓扑相变

基于背散射抑制且对缺陷免疫的传输性质,光子拓扑绝缘体为电磁传输调控提供了一种新颖的思路.类比电子体系中的量子自旋霍尔效应,本文设计出一种简单的二维介电光子晶体,以实现自旋依赖的光子拓扑边界态.该光子晶体是正三角环形硅柱子在空气中排列而成的蜂窝结构.将硅柱子绕各自中心旋转60°,可实现二重简并的偶极子态和四极子态之间的能带翻转.这两对二重简并态的平均能流密度围绕原胞中心的手性可充当赝自旋自由度,其点群对称性可用来构建赝时间反演对称.根据k·p微扰理论,给出了布里渊区中心附近的有效哈密顿量以及对应的自旋陈数,由此证实能带翻转的实质是拓扑相变.数值计算结果揭示,在拓扑非平庸和平庸的光子晶体分界面上可实现单向传输且对弯曲、空穴等缺陷免疫的拓扑边界态.本文中的光子晶体只由电介质材料组成并且晶格结构简单,实现拓扑相变时无需改变柱子的填充率或位置,只需转动一个角度.因此,这种结构在拓扑边界态的应用中更为有效.     

Topological phase transition in anisotropic square-octagon lattice with spin–orbit coupling and exchange field

We investigate the topological phase transitions in an anisotropic square-octagon lattice in the presence of spin–orbit coupling and exchange field. On the basis of the Chern number and spin Chern number, we find a number of topologically distinct phases with tuning the exchange field, including time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall phases, quantum anomalous Hall phases and a topologically trivial phase. Particularly, we observe a coexistent state of both the quantum spin Hall effect and quantum anomalous Hall effect. Besides, by adjusting the exchange filed, we find the phase transition from time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall phase to spin-imbalanced and spin-polarized quantum anomalous Hall phases, providing an opportunity for quantum spin manipulation. The bulk band gap closes when topological phase transitions occur between different topological phases. Furthermore, the energy and spin spectra of the edge states corresponding to different topological phases are consistent with the topological characterization based on the Chern and spin Chern numbers.     

The topological quantum phase transitions in Lieb lattice driven by the Rashba SOC and exchange field

The quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect and the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect in Lieblattice are investigated in the presence of both Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) anduniform exchange field. The Lieb lattice has a simple cubic symmetry, which ischaracterized by the single Dirac-cone per Brillouin zone and the middle flat band in theband structure. The intrinsic SOC is essentially needed to open the full energy gap in thebulk. The QSH effect could survive even in the presence of the exchange field. In terms ofthe first Chern number and the spin Chern number, we study the topological nature and thetopological phase transition from the time-reversal symmetry broken QSH effect to the QAHeffect. For Lieb lattice ribbons, the energy spectrum and the wave-function distributionsare obtained numerically, where the helical edge states and the chiral edge states revealthe non-trivial topological QSH and QAH properties, respectively.     

Topological phases and phase transitions on the honeycomb lattice

We investigate possible phase transitions among the different topological insulators in a honeycomb lattice under the combined influence of spin-orbit couplings and staggered magnetic flux. We observe a series of topological phase transitions when tuning the flux amplitude, and find topologically nontrivial phases with high Chern number or spin-Chern number. Through tuning the exchange field, we also find a new quantum state which exhibits the electronic properties of both the quantum spin Hall state and quantum anomalous Hall state. The topological characterization based on the Chern number and the spin-Chern number are in good agreement with the edge-state picture of various topological phases.     

Time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall effect

The quantum spin Hall (QSH) state of matter is usually considered to be protected by time-reversal (TR) symmetry. We investigate the fate of the QSH effect in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling and an exchange field, which break both inversion and TR symmetries. It is found that the QSH state characterized by nonzero spin Chern numbers C(±) = ±1 persists when the TR symmetry is broken. A topological phase transition from the TR-symmetry-broken QSH phase to a quantum anomalous Hall phase occurs at a critical exchange field, where the bulk band gap just closes. It is also shown that the transition from the TR-symmetry-broken QSH phase to an ordinary insulator state cannot happen without closing the band gap.     

Topological order and semions in a strongly correlated quantum spin Hall insulator

We provide a self-consistent mean-field framework to study the effect of strong interactions in a quantum spin Hall insulator on the honeycomb lattice. We identify an exotic phase for large spin-orbit coupling and intermediate Hubbard interaction. This phase is gapped and does not break any symmetry. Instead, we find a fourfold topological degeneracy of the ground state on the torus and fractionalized excitations with semionic mutual braiding statistics. Moreover, we argue that it has gapless edge modes protected by time-reversal symmetry but a trivial Z(2) topological invariant. Finally, we discuss the experimental signatures of this exotic phase. Our work highlights the important theme that interesting phases arise in the regime of strong spin-orbit coupling and interactions.     

Persistence of Spin Edge Currents in Disordered Quantum Spin Hall Systems

For a disordered two-dimensional model of a topological insulator (such as a Kane-Mele model with disordered potential) with small coupling of spin invariance and time-reversal symmetry breaking terms (such as a Rashba spin-orbit coupling and a Zeeman term), it is proved that the spin edge currents persist provided there is a spectral gap and the spin Chern numbers are well-defined and non-trivial. These are sufficient conditions for being in the quantum spin Hall phase. The result materializes the general philosophy that topological insulators are topologically non-trivial bulk systems with persistent edge or surface currents.     

Floquet topological phase transition in two-dimensional quadratic band crossing system

We investigate the Hall effects of quadratic band crossing(QBC) fermions in a square optical lattice with spin–orbit coupling and orbital Zeeman term. We find that the orbital Zeeman term and shaking play critical roles in the systems,which can drive a topological transition from spin Hall phases to anomalous Hall phase with nonvanishing(spin) Chern numbers. Due to the interplay among the orbital Zeeman term, spin–orbit coupling, and the shaking, the phase diagram of the system exhibits rich phases, which are characterized by Chern number.     

Photoinduced anisotropic edge states and signatures of nonequilibrium spin polarization in silicene nanoribbons

Most topological phase transitions are accompanied by the emergence of surface/edge states with spin dependence. Usually, the quantized Hall conductivity cannot characterize the anisotropic transports and spin dependence of topological states. Here, we study the intricate topological phase transition and the anisotropic behavior of edge states in silicene nanoribbon submitted to an electric field or/and a light irradiation. It is interesting to find that a circularly polarized light can induce a type-II quantum anomaly Hall phase, which is manifested as the high Chern number and the strong anisotropic edge states. Besides the measurement of the quantized Hall conductivity, we further propose to probe these topological phase transitions and the anisotropy of edge states by measuring the current-induced nonequilibrium spin polarization. It is found that the spin polarization exhibits more signatures about the behavior of surface/edge states, beyond the quantized Hall conductivity, especially for spin-dependent transports with different velocities.     

圆环结构磁光光子晶体中的拓扑相变

二维圆环结构的三角晶格磁光光子晶体中可以呈现多重拓扑相.在不同的几何参数和磁场下,这些拓扑相包括正常光子带隙相、量子自旋霍尔相和反常量子霍尔相.与文献[1]类似,该结果展现了二维光子晶体丰富的拓扑相变现象.