Space group constraints on weak indices in topological insulators
D. Varjas (TU Delft - QRD/Kouwenhoven Lab, University of California, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QuTech Advanced Research Centre)
Fernando De Juan (Instituto Madrilenõ de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), University of California)
Yuan Ming Lu (The Ohio State University)
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Abstract
Lattice translation symmetry gives rise to a large class of "weak" topological insulators (TIs), characterized by translation-protected gapless surface states and dislocation bound states. In this work we show that space group symmetries lead to constraints on the weak topological indices that define these phases. In particular, we show that screw rotation symmetry enforces the Hall conductivity in planes perpendicular to the screw axis to be quantized in multiples of the screw rank, which generally applies to interacting systems. We further show that certain 3D weak indices associated with quantum spin Hall effects (class AII) are forbidden by the Bravais lattice and by glide or even-fold screw symmetries. These results put strong constraints on weak TI candidates in the experimental and numerical search for topological materials, based on the crystal structure alone.