SciPost Submission Page
Topological linear response of hyperbolic Chern insulators
by Canon Sun, Anffany Chen, Tomáš Bzdušek, Joseph Maciejko
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Canon Sun |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | scipost_202406_00052v2 (pdf) |
| Code repository: | https://github.com/CanonEnsemble/hyperbolic_chern_number |
| Date submitted: | 2024-09-09 01:35 |
| Submitted by: | Sun, Canon |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
|
| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
We establish a connection between the electromagnetic Hall response and band topological invariants in hyperbolic Chern insulators by deriving a hyperbolic analog of the Thouless-Kohmoto-Nightingale-den Nijs (TKNN) formula. By generalizing the Kubo formula to hyperbolic lattices, we show that the Hall conductivity is quantized to $-e^2C_{ij}/h$, where $C_{ij}$ is the first Chern number. Through a flux-threading argument, we provide an interpretation of the Chern number as a topological invariant in hyperbolic band theory. We demonstrate that, although it receives contributions from both Abelian and non-Abelian Bloch states, the Chern number can be calculated solely from Abelian states, resulting in a tremendous simplification of the topological band theory. Finally, we verify our results numerically by computing various Chern numbers in the hyperbolic Haldane model.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
Author comments upon resubmission
We thank the referees for their thorough review and insightful comments. Below we address each point raised by Referee 2.
- Clarification from Eq. (1) to Eq. (4):
We appreciate the referee's suggestion for clarity. To clarify, there is a distinction between the periodic cluster $G$, defined as a torsion-free normal subgroup, and the U(1) Peierls substitution, which is due to an external electric field. To go from Eq. (1) to (3), we first define a tight-binding model with nearest-neighbor hopping on lattice sites $G$. The Abelian U(1) Peierls substitution is then applied to this tight-binding Hamiltonian.
It is important to note that after the Peierls substitution, the translation group remains non-Abelian. We did not select only the Abelian part of the translation group. In the revised manuscript, we have added a sentence after Eq. (5) to emphasize this fact.
- Connection Between Homology and Flux Threading:
There is indeed a connection between homology and flux threading. Homology characterizes the number of "holes" in the surface on which the periodic cluster resides. Flux threading through these holes can be understood by introducing a flat gauge field $A$. Although the gauge field is flat (i.e., its exterior derivative vanishes), it belongs to a non-trivial cohomological class (i.e., it is not the exterior derivative of something). We have added a brief discussion at the end of the second paragraph on page 5 to elaborate on the connection.
More formally, it is indeed homology rather than homotopy which is relevant for flux threading, since the flux $\varphi_\alpha$ through the noncontractible cycle $\mathfrak{g}\alpha\in\Gamma\text{PBC}\cong\pi_1(\Sigma_h)$ (here, $\Sigma_h$ denotes the genus-$h$ surface in Fig.~2 and $\pi_1$ its fundamental group) only depends on the abelianization $\Gamma_\text{PBC}/[\Gamma_\text{PBC},\Gamma_\text{PBC}]$, which is isomorphic to the first homology group $H_1(\Sigma_h,\mathbb{Z})$. Indeed, $\Lambda_j(\mathfrak{g}_\alpha)$ remains unchanged if $\mathfrak{g}_\alpha$ is multiplied by an element of the commutator subgroup $[\Gamma_\text{PBC},\Gamma_\text{PBC}]$. The flux is given by integrating the gauge field one-form $A$ (which belongs to the cohomology group $H^1(\Sigma_h,\mathbb{Z})$) over a closed homology cycle in $H_1(\Sigma_h,\mathbb{Z})$.
- Elaboration on the Quantization of Chern Numbers:
The integer nature of $C^{(K)}_{ij}$ arises because it is the integral of the Berry curvature over a closed manifold. This is true also for non-Abelian states. To clarify, we did not selectively take the Abelian sector; rather, all states, including those in both Abelian and non-Abelian sectors, are included. The simplification Eq. (35) only occurs due to a relation between the Chern numbers. The orthogonality of the Abelian and non-Abelian sectors follows from the fact that states transforming in different irreps are necessarily orthogonal.
Smaller Comments:
In describing "hyperbolic matter as a novel form of synthetic matter," our intention is to refer to matter that exists on a hyperbolic lattice. For example, in this work, we are specifically discussing a Chern insulator living on a hyperbolic lattice.
Title Suggestion: We would like to respectfully point out that the Hall conductivity receives contributions from both Abelian and non-Abelian states. The significant simplification in Eq. (35) arises because those contributions are related to each other, not because we only take account of Abelian states. The existence of a relation between Abelian and non-Abelian Chern numbers is nontrivial and indeed one of the main results of our work. Therefore, we prefer not to specify "Abelian" in the title, as such an inclusion would result in a misleading representation of our main result.
Citation: We thank the referee for bringing our attention to Physical Review X 7 (4), 041069 (2017). We have added the suggested citation to the paper.
List of changes
- Page 5, at the second of the second paragraph. Added "Mathematically, the periodic cluster resides on a surface with non-trivial homology, which quantifies the number of "holes" the surface possesses. Flat connections corresponding to fluxes threaded through these holes belong to non-trivial cohomological classes."
- Page 5, immediately below Eq. (5). Added "We note that even though the U(1) Peierls phase $e^{-i\phi_j}$ itself is Abelian, the translation symmetry of the Hamiltonian (5) is still noncommutative, described by the non-Abelian group $G$. To make those..."
- Added code repository as Ref. [82]
- Added Ref. [65], J. Kruthoff, J. de Boer, J. van Wezel, C. L. Kane and R.-J. Slager, Topological classification of crystalline insulators through band structure combinatorics, Phys. Rev. X 7, 041069 (2017)