Condensed Matter Physics Seminar: Vladimir Juričić

Abstract:

Projected topological branes: Window into higher-dimensional topological matter

Topological states of quantum matter, featuring exotic robust, topologically and symmetry-protected boundary states, are at the forefront of research in the modern condensed matter physics. In the last decade, it has been understood that crystalline symmetries play a fundamental role in the emergence and the protection of the topological phases, yielding a landscape of topological crystalline materials. However, crystals are bound to live in three spatial dimensions, which thereby provides a natural constraint on the possible topological crystalline phases. 

Motivated by this, I will consider projected topological branes (PTBs), which are holographic images of higher-dimension topological crystals on lower-dimensional branes, thereby providing the window into the landscape of the topological phases in higher dimensions. I will discuss some of their general features, such as the bulk-boundary correspondence, probing through the lattice dislocations, and the quantum transport, e.g. the chiral anomaly, when considering the projection from a parent two- or three-dimensional topological crystal [1]. Furthermore, as we recently realized, the PTBs also offer a way to circumvent constraints of the tenfold way classification of topological matter without adding any extra symmetries [2]. In particular, I will argue that the PTBs allow for the realization of the three-dimensional Z-invariant insulators, thereby going beyond the usual Z2 topological classification of 3D insulators.  Finally, some of the possible experimental realizations and future directions in the study of the PTBs will be highlighted.

[1] A. Panigrahi, V.J., B. Roy, Communications Physics 5, 230 (2023).

[2] A. Tyner and V.J., to be posted on arXiv.