arXiv subjects

Chang-An Li

Publications and source records attributed to Chang-An Li.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Magnetic topological transistor exploiting layer-selective transport

We propose a magnetic topological transistor based on MnBi$_{2}$Te$_{4}$, in which the "on" state (quantized conductance) and the "off" state (zero conductance) can be easily switched by changing the relative direction of two adjacent electric fields (parallel vs. antiparallel) applied within a two-terminal junction. We explain that the proposed magnetic topological transistor relies on a novel mechanism due to the interplay of topology, magnetism, and layer degrees of freedom in MnBi$_{2}$Te$_{4}$. Its performance depends substantially on film thickness and type of magnetic order. We show that "on" and "off" states of the transistor are robust against disorder due to the topological nature of the surface states. Our work opens an avenue for applications of layer-selective transport based on the topological van der Waals antiferromagnet MnBi$_{2}$Te$_{4}$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Transition from metal to higher-order topological insulator driven by random flux

Random flux is commonly believed to be incapable of driving full metal-insulator transitions in non-interacting systems. Here we show that random flux can after all induce a full metal-band insulator transition in the two-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Remarkably, we find that the resulting insulator can be an extrinsic higher-order topological insulator with zero-energy corner modes in proper regimes, rather than a conventional Anderson insulator. Employing both level statistics and finite-size scaling analysis, we characterize the metal-band insulator transition and numerically extract its critical exponent as $ν=2.48\pm0.08$. To reveal the physical mechanism underlying the transition, we present an effective band structure picture based on the random flux averaged Green's function.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Topological States in Two-Dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Models

We study the topological properties of the generalized two-dimensional (2D) Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) models. We show that a pair of Dirac points appear in the Brillouin zone (BZ), consisting a semimetallic phase. Interestingly, the locations of these Dirac points are not pinned to any high-symmetry points of the BZ but tunable by model parameters. Moreover, the merging of two Dirac points undergoes a novel topological phase transition, which leads to either a weak topological insulator or a nodal-line metallic phase. We demonstrate these properties by constructing two specific models, which we referred as type-I and type-II 2D SSH models. The feasible experimental platforms to realize our models are also discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Dirac States in an Inclined Two-Dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Model

We propose to realize Dirac states in an inclined two-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model on a square lattice. We show that a pair of Dirac points protected by space-time inversion symmetry appear in the semimetal phase. The locations of these Dirac points are not pinned to any high-symmetry points of the Brillouin zone but are tunable through parameter modulations. Interestingly, the merging of two Dirac points undergoes a topological phase transition that leads to either a weak topological insulator or a nodal-line semimetal. We provide a systematic analysis of these topological phases from both bulk and boundary perspectives combined with symmetry arguments. We also discuss feasible experimental platforms to realize our model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Quantum Monte Carlo study of topological phases on a spin analogue of Benalcazar-Bernevig-Hughes model

We study the higher-order topological spin phases based on a spin analogue of Benalcazar-Bernevig-Hughes model in two dimensions using large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations. A continuous Néel-valence bond solid quantum phase transition is revealed by tuning the ratio between dimerized spin couplings, namely, the weak and strong exchange couplings. Through the finite-size scaling analysis, we identify the phase critical points, and consequently, map out the full phase diagrams in related parameter spaces. Particularly, we find that the valence bond solid phase can be a higher-order topological spin phase, which has a gap for spin excitations in the bulk while demonstrates characteristic gapless spin modes at corners of open lattices. We further discuss the connection between the higher-order topological spin phases and the electronic correlated higher-order phases, and find both of them possess gapless spin corner modes that are protected by higher-order topology. Our result exemplifies higher-order physics in the correlated spin systems and will contribute to further understandings of the many-body higher-order topological phenomena.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Super-resonant transport of topological surface states subjected to in-plane magnetic fields

Magnetic oscillations of Dirac surface states of topological insulators are expected to be associated with the formation of Landau levels or the Aharonov-Bohm effect. We instead study the conductance of Dirac surface states subjected to an in-plane magnetic field in presence of a barrier potential. Strikingly, we find that, in the case of large barrier potentials, the surface states exhibit pronounced oscillations in the conductance when varying the magnetic field, in the \textit{absence} of Landau levels or the Aharonov-Bohm effect. These novel magnetic oscillations are attributed to the emergence of \textit{super-resonant regimes} by tuning the magnetic field, in which almost all propagating electrons cross the barrier with perfect transmission. In the case of small and moderate barrier potentials, we also identify a positive magnetoconductance which is due to the increase of the Fermi surface by tilting the surface Dirac cone. Moreover, we show that for weak magnetic fields, the conductance displays a shifted sinusoidal dependence on the field direction with period $π$ and phase shift determined by the tilting direction with respect to the field direction. Our predictions can be applied to many topological insulators, such as HgTe and Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$, and provide important insights into exploring and understanding exotic magnetotransport properties of topological surface states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Higher-order Fabry-Pérot Interferometer from Topological Hinge States

We propose an intrinsic 3D Fabry-Pérot type interferometer, coined "higher-order interferometer", that utilizes the chiral hinge states of second-order topological insulators and cannot be equivalently mapped to 2D space because of higher-order topology. Quantum interference patterns in the two-terminal conductance of this interferometer are controllable not only by tuning the strength but also, particularly, by rotating the direction of the magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the transport direction. Remarkably, the conductance exhibits a characteristic beating pattern with multiple frequencies with respect to field strength or direction. Our novel interferometer provides feasible and robust magneto-transport signatures to probe the particular hinge states of higher-order topological insulators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Chiral Majorana Hinge Modes in Superconducting Dirac Materials

Chiral Majorana hinge modes are characteristic of a second-order topological superconductor in three dimensions. Here we systematically study pairing symmetry in the point group D_{2h}, and find that the leading pairing channels can be of s-, d-, and s+id-wave pairing in Dirac materials. Except for the odd-parity s-wave pairing superconductivity, the s+id-wave pairing superconductor is topologically nontrivial and possesses Majorana hinge and surface modes. The chiral Majorana hinge modes can be characterized by a winding number of the quadrupole moment, or quantized quadruple moment at the symmetrically invariant point. Our findings suggest the strong spin-orbital coupling, crystalline symmetries and electron-electron interaction in the Dirac materials may provide a microscopic mechanism to realize chiral Majorana hinge modes without utilizing the proximity effect or external fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Topological Phase Transitions in Disordered Electric Quadrupole Insulators

We investigate disorder-driven topological phase transitions in quantized electric quadrupole insulators. We show that chiral symmetry can protect the quantization of the quadrupole moment $q_{xy}$, such that the higher-order topological invariant is well-defined even when disorder has broken all crystalline symmetries. Moreover, nonvanishing $q_{xy}$ and consequent corner modes can be induced from a trivial insulating phase by disorder that preserves chiral symmetry. The critical points of such topological phase transitions are marked by the occurrence of extended boundary states even in the presence of strong disorder. We provide a systematic characterization of these disorder-driven topological phase transitions from both bulk and boundary descriptions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Topological States in Generalized Electric Quadrupole Insulators

The modern theory of electric polarization has recently been extended to higher multipole moments, such as quadrupole and octupole moments. The higher electric multipole insulators are essentially topological crystalline phases protected by underlying crystalline symmetries. Henceforth, it is natural to ask what are the consequences of symmetry breaking in these higher multipole insulators. In this work, we investigate topological phases and the consequences of symmetry breaking in generalized electric quadrupole insulators. Explicitly, we generalize the Benalcazar-Bernevig-Hughes model by adding specific terms in order to break the crystalline and non-spatial symmetries. Our results show that chiral symmetry breaking induces an indirect gap phase which hides corner modes in bulk bands, ruining the topological quadrupole phase. We also demonstrate that quadrupole moments can remain quantized even when mirror symmetries are absent in a generalized model. Furthermore, it is shown that topological quadrupole phase is robust against a unique type of disorder presented in the system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Pseudo chiral anomaly in zigzag graphene ribbons

As the three-dimensional analogs of graphene, Weyl semimetals display signatures of chiral anomaly which arises from charge pumping between the lowest chiral Landau levels of the Weyl nodes in the presence of parallel electric and magnetic fields. In this work, we study the pseudo chiral anomaly and its transport signatures in graphene ribbon with zigzag edges. Here "pseudo" refers to the case where the inverse of width of zigzag graphene ribbon plays the same role as magnetic field in three-dimensional Weyl semimetals. The valley chiral bands in zigzag graphene ribbons can be introduced by edge potentials, giving rise to the nonconservation of chiral current, i.e., pseudo chiral anomaly, in the presence of a longitudinal electric field. Further numerical results reveal that pseudo magnetoconductivity of zigzag graphene ribbons is positive and has a nearly quadratic dependence on the pseudofield, which is regarded as the transport signature of pseudo chiral anomaly.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Majorana-Josephson Interferometer

We propose an interferometer for chiral Majorana modes where the interference effect is caused and controlled by a Josephson junction of proximity-induced topological superconductors, hence, a Majorana-Josephson interferometer. This interferometer is based on a two-terminal quantum anomalous Hall bar, and as such its transport observables exhibit interference patterns depending on both the Josephson phase and the junction length. Observing these interference patterns will establish quantum coherent Majorana transport and further provide a powerful characterization tool for the relevant system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Hidden edge Dirac point and robust quantum edge transport in InAs/GaSb quantum wells

The robustness of quantum edge transport in InAs/GaSb quantum wells in the presence of magnetic fields raises an issue on the fate of topological phases of matter under time-reversal symmetry breaking. A peculiar band structure evolution in InAs/GaSb quantum wells is revealed: the electron subbands cross the heavy hole subbands but anticross the light hole subbands. The topologically protected band crossing point (Dirac point) of the helical edge states is pulled to be close to and even buried in the bulk valence bands when the system is in a deeply inverted regime, which is attributed to the existence of the light hole subbands. A sizable Zeeman energy gap verified by the effective g-factors of edge states opens at the Dirac point by an in-plane or perpendicular magnetic field, however it can also be hidden in the bulk valance bands. This provides a plausible explanation for the recent observation on the robustness of quantum edge transport in InAs/GaSb quantum wells subjected to strong magnetic fields.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Chiral anomaly and anomalous finite-size conductivity in graphene

Graphene is a monolayer of carbon atoms packed into a hexagon lattice to host two pairs of massless two-dimensional Dirac fermions in the absence of or with negligible spin-orbit coupling. It is known that the existence of non-zero electric polarization in reduced momentum space which is associated with a hidden chiral symmetry will lead to the zero-energy flat band of zigzag nanoribbon. The Adler-Bell-Jackiw chiral anomaly or non-conservation of chiral charges at different valleys can be realized in a confined ribbon of finite width. In the laterally diffusive regime, the finite-size correction to conductivity is always positive and goes inversely with the square of the lateral dimension W, which is different from the finite-size correction inversely with W from boundary modes. This anomalous finite-size conductivity reveals the signature of the chiral anomaly in graphene, and is measurable experimentally.

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