Bosonic edge states in gapped honeycomb lattices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence and controllability of bosonic edge states in gapped honeycomb lattices through quantum Monte Carlo simulations, highlighting their topological nature and potential for experimental realization.

Contribution

It reveals bosonic edge states in gapped honeycomb lattices, controllable via boundary potentials, and discusses their topological origin, extending understanding of bosonic topological phases.

Findings

Bosonic edge states exist in gapped honeycomb lattices.

Edge states can be controlled and made to cross the gap.

Topological origin of edge states is discussed with pseudo Berry curvature.

Abstract

By quantum Monte Carlo simulations of bosons in gapped honeycomb lattices, we show the existence of bosonic edge states. For single layer honeycomb lattice, bosonic edge states can be controlled to appear, cross the gap and merge into bulk states by an on-site potential applied on the outmost sites of the boundary. On bilayer honeycomb lattice, bosonic edge state traversing the gap at half filling is demonstrated. The topological origin of the bosonic edge states is discussed with pseudo Berry curvature. The results will simulate experimental studies of these exotic bosonic edge states with ultracold bosons trapped in honeycomb optical lattices.