Higher-order Topological Insulators

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2018 Jun 6

PMID 29869644

Citations 66

Authors

Frank Schindler

Ashley M Cook

Maia G Vergniory

Zhijun Wang

Stuart S P Parkin

B Andrei Bernevig

Titus Neupert

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Three-dimensional topological (crystalline) insulators are materials with an insulating bulk but conducting surface states that are topologically protected by time-reversal (or spatial) symmetries. We extend the notion of three-dimensional topological insulators to systems that host no gapless surface states but exhibit topologically protected gapless hinge states. Their topological character is protected by spatiotemporal symmetries of which we present two cases: (i) Chiral higher-order topological insulators protected by the combination of time-reversal and a fourfold rotation symmetry. Their hinge states are chiral modes, and the bulk topology is -classified. (ii) Helical higher-order topological insulators protected by time-reversal and mirror symmetries. Their hinge states come in Kramers pairs, and the bulk topology is -classified. We provide the topological invariants for both cases. Furthermore, we show that SnTe as well as surface-modified BiTeI, BiSe, and BiTe are helical higher-order topological insulators and propose a realistic experimental setup to detect the hinge states.

Citing Articles

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Hierarchical zero- and one-dimensional topological states in symmetry-controllable grain boundary.

Jang W, Noh H, Kang S, Ko W, Ku J, Park M Nat Commun. 2024; 15(1):9328.

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Plasmonic Hinge Modes in Metal-Coated Nanolasers.

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