Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

    Topological indicators for systems with open boundaries: Application to the Kitaev wire

    Balázs Hetényi1,2, András Lászlóffy1, Karlo Penc1, and Balázs Újfalussy1

    Phys. Rev. B 112, 075115 – Published 8 August, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/v6ht-jq3l

    Abstract

    To clarify the relationship between edge electronic states in open-boundary crystalline systems and their corresponding bulk electronic structure, A. Alase et al., [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 076804 (2016)] have recently generalized Bloch's theorem to lattice models with broken translational symmetry. Their formalism provides a bulk-boundary correspondence indicator, D, sensitive directly to the localization of edge states. We extend this formalism in two significant ways. First, we explicitly classify the edge-state basis provided by the theory according to their underlying protecting symmetries. Second, acknowledging that the true topological invariant is the Zak phase, inherently defined only for periodic boundary conditions, we introduce an analogous quantity γZ, suitable for open-boundary systems. We illustrate these developments on the example of the Kitaev wire model. We demonstrate that both indicators, D and our open-boundary analog, γZ, effectively capture topological localization: while D diverges within the topological phase, γZ=π. We further examine eigenvalues (z) of the lattice shift operator, showing that variations in these eigenvalues as a function of chemical potential provide additional signatures of topological phase transitions. Additionally, we study a periodic Kitaev wire containing a bond impurity, revealing that while the topological phase remains characterized by γZ=π, significant state localization near the impurity emerges only at critical values of the chemical potential.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Authorization Required

    We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

    References (Subscription Required)

    Outline

    Information

    Sign In to Your Journals Account

    Filter

    Filter

    Article Lookup

    Enter a citation