Gauge fields at the surface of topological insulators

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gauge fields naturally emerge on the surface of three-dimensional topological insulators coated with ferromagnets, affecting their surface electronic spectrum.

Contribution

It demonstrates the emergence of gauge fields in topological insulator surface states due to magnetic coating and analyzes their impact on the surface spectrum.

Findings

Gauge fields arise when topological insulators are coated with ferromagnets.

Magnetic configurations modify the surface electronic spectrum.

The study provides a framework for controlling surface states via magnetic fields.

Abstract

We study the emergence of gauge couplings in the surface states of topological insulators. We show that gauge fields arise when a three dimensional strong topological insulator is coated with an easy-plane ferromagnet with magnetization parallel to the surface. We analyze the modification induced by the gauge fields on the surface spectrum for some specific magnetic configurations.