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Prediction of a topological p + ip excitonic insulator with parity anomaly

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Wang

    (Nanjing University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Onur Erten

    (Arizona State University)

  • Baigeng Wang

    (Nanjing University)

  • D. Y. Xing

    (Nanjing University)

Abstract

Excitonic insulators are insulating states formed by the coherent condensation of electron and hole pairs into BCS-like states. Isotropic spatial wave functions are commonly considered for excitonic condensates since the attractive interaction among the electrons and the holes in semiconductors usually leads to s-wave excitons. Here, we propose a new type of excitonic insulator that exhibits order parameter with p + ip symmetry and is characterized by a chiral Chern number Cc = 1/2. This state displays the parity anomaly, which results in two novel topological properties: fractionalized excitations with e/2 charge at defects and a spontaneous in-plane magnetization. The topological insulator surface state is a promising platform to realize the topological excitonic insulator. With the spin-momentum locking, the interband optical pumping can renormalize the surface electrons and drive the system towards the proposed p + ip instability.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Wang & Onur Erten & Baigeng Wang & D. Y. Xing, 2019. "Prediction of a topological p + ip excitonic insulator with parity anomaly," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-08203-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08203-9
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