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Refraction-induced transverse charge transport
Phys. Rev. B 114, 105406 – Published 10 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kvjt-nb7q
Abstract
We introduce a mechanism that produces a Hall-like transverse response in time-reversal-invariant materials, driven entirely by geometric effects. Specifically, we demonstrate that a tilted potential interface causes electron wave packets to undergo a refractionlike deflection upon transmission through the barrier, leading to a finite transverse current and a corresponding Hall-like conductance. Our analytical framework captures the essential features of this refraction-driven charge transport, and the resulting transverse conductance profile is corroborated by numerical simulations across different lattice models and device geometries. We further visualize our predicted effect through real-time wave packet dynamics, which reveals its purely geometric origin and the robustness of the transverse response. These findings establish a fundamentally distinct class of Hall-like transport phenomena in mesoscopic systems that preserve time-reversal symmetry.