Quantization of interface currents

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Mathematical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4902377· OSTI ID:22403059

Kotani, Motoko ^[1]; Schulz-Baldes, Hermann ^[2]; Villegas-Blas, Carlos ^[3]

---

1. AIMR, Tohoku University, Sendai (Japan)
2. Department Mathematik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen (Germany)
3. Instituto de Matematicas, Cuernavaca, UNAM, Cuernavaca (Mexico)

At the interface of two two-dimensional quantum systems, there may exist interface currents similar to edge currents in quantum Hall systems. It is proved that these interface currents are macroscopically quantized by an integer that is given by the difference of the Chern numbers of the two systems. It is also argued that at the interface between two time-reversal invariant systems with half-integer spin, one of which is trivial and the other non-trivial, there are dissipationless spin-polarized interface currents.

• OSTI ID: 22403059
• Journal Information: Journal of Mathematical Physics, Vol. 55, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-2488
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CURRENTS
INTERFACES
QUANTIZATION
SPIN
SPIN ORIENTATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS