Winding numbers of phase transition points for one-dimensional topological systems

We study topological properties of phase transition points of one-dimensional topological quantum phase transitions by assigning winding numbers defined on closed circles around the gap closing points in the parameter space of momentum and a transition driving parameter, which overcomes the problem of ill definition of winding numbers on the transition points. By applying our scheme to the extended Kitaev model and extended Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we demonstrate that the topological phase transition can be well characterized by winding numbers of transition points, which reflect the change of the winding number of topologically different phases across the phase transition points.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Dynamical topological invariant after a quantum quench

We show how to define a dynamical topological invariant for general one-dimensional topological systems after a quantum quench. Focusing on two-band topological insulators, we demonstrate that the reduced momentum-time manifold can be viewed as a series of submanifold $S^2$, and thus we are able to define a dynamical topological invariant on each of the sphere. We also unveil the intrinsic relation between the dynamical topological invariant and the difference of topological invariant of the initial and final static Hamiltonian. By considering some concrete examples, we illustrate the calculation of the dynamical topological invariant and its geometrical meaning explicitly.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures + supplementary materia

Topological invariants for phase transition points of one-dimensional Z2\mathbb{Z}_2 topological systems

We study topological properties of phase transition points of two topologically non-trivial $\mathbb{Z}_2$ classes (D and DIII) in one dimension by assigning a Berry phase defined on closed circles around the gap closing points in the parameter space of momentum and a transition driving parameter. While the topological property of the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ system is generally characterized by a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological invariant, we identify that it has a correspondence to the quantized Berry phase protected by the particle-hole symmetry, and then give a proper definition of Berry phase to the phase transition point. By applying our scheme to some specific models of class D and DIII, we demonstrate that the topological phase transition can be well characterized by the Berry phase of the transition point, which reflects the change of Berry phases of topologically different phases across the phase transition point.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Characterization of symmetry-protected topological phases in polymerized models by trajectories of Majorana stars

By using Majorana's stellar representation, we give a clear geometrical interpretation of the topological phases of inversion-symmetric polymerized models by mapping the Bloch states of multi-band systems to Majorana stars on the Bloch sphere. While trajectories of Majorana stars of a filled Bloch band exhibit quite different geometrical structures for topologically trivial and nontrivial phases, we further demonstrate that these structures are uniquely determined by distributions of Majorana stars of two high-symmetrical momentum states, which have different parities for topologically different states.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Magnetism and thermodynamics of spin-(1/2,1) decorated Heisenberg chain with spin-1 pendants

The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a new ferrimagnetic decorated spin-(1/2,1) Heisenberg chain with spin-1 pendant spins are investigated for three cases: (A) J1,J2>0; (B) J1>0, J20, where J1 and J2 are the exchange couplings between spins in the chain and along the rung, respectively. The low-lying and magnetic properties are explored jointly by the real-space renormalization group, spin wave, and density-matrix renormalization group methods, while the transfer-matrix renormalization group method is invoked to study the thermodynamics. It is found that the magnon spectra consist of a gapless and two gapped branches. Two branches in case (C) have intersections. The coupling dependence of low-energy gaps are analyzed. In a magnetic field, an m=3/2 (m is the magnetization per unit cell) plateau is observed for case (A), while two plateaux at m=1/2 and 3/2 are observed for cases (B) and (C). Between the two plateaux in cases (B) and (C), the sublattice magnetizations for the spins coupled by ferromagnetic interactions have novel decreasing regions with increasing the magnetic field. At finite temperature, the zero-field susceptibility temperature product chi*T and specific heat exhibit distinct exotic features with varying the couplings and temperature for different cases. chi*T is found to converge as T approaches zero, which is different from the divergent behavior in the spin-(1/2,1) mixed-spin chain without pendants. The observed thermodynamic behaviors are also discussed with the help of their low-lying excitations.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

The Mid-Infrared Extinction Law and its Variation in the Coalsack Nebula

In recent years the wavelength dependence of interstellar extinction from the ultraviolet (UV), optical, through the near- and mid-infrared (IR) has been studied extensively. Although it is well established that the UV/optical extinction law varies significantly among the different lines of sight, it is not clear how the IR extinction varies among various environments. In this work, using the color-excess method and taking red giants as the extinction tracer, we determine the interstellar extinction Alambda in the four Spitzer/IRAC bands of the Coalsack nebula, a nearby starless dark cloud, based on the data obtained from the 2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE surveys. We select five individual regions across the nebula that span a wide variety of physical conditions, ranging from diffuse, translucent to dense environments, as traced by the visual extinction, the Spitzer/MIPS 24micron emission, and CO emission. We find that Alambda/AKs, the mid-IR extinction relative to AKs, decreases from diffuse to dense environments, which may be explained in terms of ineffective dust growth in dense regions. The mean extinction (relative to AKs) is calculated for the four IRAC bands as well, which exhibits a flat mid-IR extinction law, consistent with previous determinations for other regions. The extinction in the IRAC 4.5micron band is anomalously high, much higher than that of the other three IRAC bands. It cannot be explained in terms of CO and CO2 ices. The mid-IR extinction in the four IRAC bands have also been derived for four representative regions in the Coalsack Globule 2 which respectively exhibit strong ice absorption, moderate or weak ice absorption, and very weak or no ice absorption. The derived mid-IR extinction curves are all flat, with Alambda/AKs increasing with the decrease of the H2O ice absorption optical depth.Comment: 39 pages, 13 figures, accepted by Ap