Half-integer quantum Hall effect of disordered Dirac fermions at a topological insulator surface

TL;DR

This paper investigates the half-integer quantum Hall effect on topological insulator surfaces, analyzing experimental signatures, theoretical localization physics, and the role of the parity anomaly, with detailed RG flow and phase diagram discussions.

Contribution

It introduces a field theory for the localization physics of Dirac fermions' quantum Hall effect and revisits the parity anomaly in this context.

Findings

Derivation of a field theory for Dirac fermions' quantum Hall effect

Analysis of the RG flow and phase diagram for the system

Discussion of experimental measurement strategies for half-integer Hall conductance

Abstract

The unconventional (half-integer) quantum Hall effect for a single species of Dirac fermions is analyzed. We discuss possible experimental measurements of the half-integer Hall conductance $g_{xy}$ of topological insulator surface states and explain how to reconcile Laughlin's flux insertion argument with half-integer $g_{xy}$. Using a vortex state representation of Landau Level wavefunctions, we calculate current density beyond linear response, which is in particular relevant to the topological image monopole effect. As a major result, the field theory describing the localization physics of the quantum Hall effect of a single species of Dirac fermions is derived. In this connection, the issue of (absent) parity anomaly is revisited. The renormalization group flow (RG) and the resulting phase diagram are extensively discussed. Starting values of the RG flow are given by the semiclassical conductivity tensor which is obtained from the Boltzmann transport theory of the anomalous Hall effect.