Work

Single-cone Dirac edge states on a lattice

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The stationary Dirac equation ( p ⋅ σ ) ψ = E ψ , confined to a two-dimensional (2D) region, supports states propagating along the boundary and decaying exponentially away from the boundary. These edge states appear on the 2D surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator, where massless fermionic quasiparticles are governed by the Dirac equation and confined by a magnetic insulator. We show how the continuous system can be simulated on a 2D square lattice, without running into the fermion-doubling obstruction. For that purpose we adapt the existing tangent fermion discretization on an unbounded lattice to account for a lattice termination that simulates the magnetic insulator interface.

Source: Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

DOI: 10.1088/1751-8121/adbac7

Authors: A Donís Vela, C W J Beenakker

Institution: Leiden University

Language: Latvian

Topic: Topological Materials and Phenomena

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funders: European Commission, H2020 European Research Council