Topological Kondo Insulators

TL;DR

This paper develops a topological classification for Kondo insulators, revealing they can host three-dimensional topological insulating phases, and provides methods to calculate their topological indices with implications for experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a topological classification framework for Kondo insulators based on the Anderson lattice Hamiltonian, identifying potential 3D topological phases.

Findings

Kondo insulators can host 3D topological insulating phases

A practical method for calculating Z_2 topological indices is proposed

Discussion of experimental signatures of topological Kondo insulators

Abstract

Kondo insulators are particularly simple type of heavy electron material, where a filled band of heavy quasiparticles gives rise to a narrow band insulator. Starting with the Anderson lattice Hamiltonian, we develop a topological classification of emergent band structures for Kondo insulators and show that these materials may host three-dimensional topological insulating phases. We propose a general and practical prescription of calculating the Z_2 strong and weak topological insulator indices for various lattice structures. Experimental implications of the topological Kondo insulating behavior are discussed.