M\"obius Kondo Insulators

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of topologically protected heavy fermion systems called Möbius Kondo insulators, enabled by nonsymmorphic symmetries, with potential for novel surface states and electronic phases.

Contribution

It demonstrates how nonsymmorphic symmetries lead to Möbius surface states in heavy fermion insulators, expanding topological protection beyond simple symmetries.

Findings

Archival resistivity data shows low-temperature conductivity plateau in Ce3Bi4Pt3 and CeNiSn.

Model calculations reveal glide symmetries produce Möbius surface states with braiding.

Strong correlations can induce surface localization, transforming surface states into quasi-1D conductors.

Abstract

Heavy fermion materials have recently attracted attention for their potential to combine topological protection with strongly correlated electron physics. To date, the ideas of topological protection have been restricted to the heavy fermion or "Kondo" insulators with the simplest point-group symmetries. Here we argue that the presence of nonsymmorphic crystal symmetries in many heavy fermion materials opens up a new family of topologically protected heavy electron systems. Re-examination of archival resistivity measurements in nonsymmorphic heavy fermion insulators Ce$_3$Bi$_4$Pt$_3$ and CeNiSn reveals the presence of low temperature conductivity plateau, making them candidate members of the new class of material. We illustrate our ideas with a specific model for CeNiSn, showing how glide symmetries generate surface states with a novel Mobius braiding that can be detected by ARPES or non-local conductivity measurements. One of the interesting effects of strong correlation, is the development of partially localization or "Kondo breakdown" on the surfaces, which transforms Mobius surface states into quasi-one dimensional conductors, with the potential for novel electronic phase transitions.