$Z_2\times Z_2$ symmetry and $Z_4$ Berry phase of bosonic ladder

Abstract

Bose gas on a two-leg ladder exhibits an interesting topological phase. We show the presence of a bosonic symmetry-protected-topological (SPT) phase protected by $Z_2\times Z_2$ symmetry. This symmetry leads to $Z_4$ fractional quantization of $Z_4$ Berry phase, that is a topological order parameter to identify the bulk. Using the $Z_4$ Berry phase, we have shown that the interacting bosonic system possesses rich topological phases depending on particle density and strength of interaction. Based on the bulk-edge correspondence, each edge state of the SPT phases is discussed in relation to the $Z_4$ Berry phases. Especially we have found an intermediate phase that is not adiabatically connected to a simple adiabatic limit, that possesses unconventional edge states, which we have numerically demonstrate by employing the density-matrix-renormalization group algorithm.