Topological Excitonic Superfluids in Three Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper investigates topological excitonic superfluids in three-dimensional topological insulators, revealing unique pairing symmetries, the role of chirality, and how excitonic superfluidity can be experimentally identified through terminal current analysis.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of considering the full 3D Hamiltonian for pairing symmetry, shows that surface interconnection does not suppress condensation, and proposes methods to identify superfluidity via terminal currents.

Findings

Intersurface exciton condensation is not suppressed by surface interconnection.

Only particles with similar chirality significantly contribute to pairing.

Excitonic superfluidity can be detected through terminal current measurements.

Abstract

We study the equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of topological dipolar intersurface exciton condensates within time-reversal invariant topological insulators in three spatial dimensions without a magnetic field. We elucidate that, in order to correctly identify the proper pairing symmetry within the condensate order parameter, the full three-dimensional Hamiltonian must be considered. As a corollary, we demonstrate that only particles with similar chirality play a significant role in condensate formation. Furthermore, we find that the intersurface exciton condensation is not suppressed by the interconnection of surfaces in three-dimensional topological insulators as the intersurface polarizability vanishes in the condensed phase. This eliminates the surface current flow leaving only intersurface current flow through the bulk. We conclude by illustrating how the excitonic superfluidity may be identified through an examination of the terminal currents above and below the condensate critical current.