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arXiv · 1305.2414

Gauge Dynamics and Topological Insulators

Benjamin Béri·David Tong·Kenny Wong
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Abstract

A non-abelian magnetic field in Yang-Mills theory induces the formation of a "W-boson" vortex lattice. We study the propagation of fundamental fermions in the presence of this lattice in 2+1 dimensions. We show that the spectrum for massless fermions contains four topologically-protected Dirac points with non-zero Bloch momentum. For massive fermions, we compute topological invariants of the band structure and show that it is possible to realise a Z2 topological insulator within Yang-Mills theory.

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Benjamin Béri, David Tong, Kenny Wong. 2013-05-10. Gauge Dynamics and Topological Insulators. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep09(2013)025

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