Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase

In various topological phases, nontrivial states appear at the boundaries of the system. In this paper, we investigate anomalous dielectric response caused by such states caused by the π Zak phase. First, by using the one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we show that, when the system is insul...

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Main Authors: Yusuke Aihara, Motoaki Hirayama, Shuichi Murakami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-08-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033224
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author Yusuke Aihara
Motoaki Hirayama
Shuichi Murakami
author_facet Yusuke Aihara
Motoaki Hirayama
Shuichi Murakami
author_sort Yusuke Aihara
collection DOAJ
description In various topological phases, nontrivial states appear at the boundaries of the system. In this paper, we investigate anomalous dielectric response caused by such states caused by the π Zak phase. First, by using the one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we show that, when the system is insulating and the Zak phase is π, the polarization suddenly rises to a large value close to e/2, by application of an external electric field. The π Zak phase indicates the existence of half-filled edge states, and we attribute this phenomenon to charge transfer between the edge states at the two ends of the system. We extend this idea to two- and three-dimensional insulators with the π Zak phase over the Brillouin zone and find similar anomalous dielectric response. We also show that diamond and silicon slabs with (111) surfaces have the π Zak phase by ab initio calculations, and show that this anomalous response survives even surface reconstruction involving an odd number of original surface unit cells. Another material example with an anomalous dielectric response is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), showing plateaus of polarization at ±e by ab initio calculation, in agreement with our theory.
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spelling doaj.art-f1bdb3378bf84a828bd597d52c815ef02024-04-12T16:58:37ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-08-012303322410.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033224Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phaseYusuke AiharaMotoaki HirayamaShuichi MurakamiIn various topological phases, nontrivial states appear at the boundaries of the system. In this paper, we investigate anomalous dielectric response caused by such states caused by the π Zak phase. First, by using the one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we show that, when the system is insulating and the Zak phase is π, the polarization suddenly rises to a large value close to e/2, by application of an external electric field. The π Zak phase indicates the existence of half-filled edge states, and we attribute this phenomenon to charge transfer between the edge states at the two ends of the system. We extend this idea to two- and three-dimensional insulators with the π Zak phase over the Brillouin zone and find similar anomalous dielectric response. We also show that diamond and silicon slabs with (111) surfaces have the π Zak phase by ab initio calculations, and show that this anomalous response survives even surface reconstruction involving an odd number of original surface unit cells. Another material example with an anomalous dielectric response is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), showing plateaus of polarization at ±e by ab initio calculation, in agreement with our theory.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033224
spellingShingle Yusuke Aihara
Motoaki Hirayama
Shuichi Murakami
Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
Physical Review Research
title Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
title_full Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
title_fullStr Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
title_full_unstemmed Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
title_short Anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π Zak phase
title_sort anomalous dielectric response in insulators with the π zak phase
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033224
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