Dynamical bulk-edge correspondence for nodal lines in parameter space

TL;DR

This paper explores the topological properties of nodal lines in parameter space using a dimerized Kitaev spin chain, revealing a dynamical bulk-edge correspondence through Majorana modes and topological invariants.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamical bulk-edge correspondence framework for nodal lines in parameter space, linking topological invariants to Majorana fermion dynamics and topological pumping.

Findings

Nodal lines act as vortex filaments associated with a vector field from the Zak phase.

Majorana edge modes are protected by an energy gap, not zero energy.

Topological invariants can be extracted via adiabatic pumping and Majorana probability distributions.

Abstract

Nodal line in parameter space, at which the energy gap closes up, can either be the boundary separating two topological quantum phases or two conventional phases. We study the topological feature of nodal line in parameter space via a dimerized Kitaev spin chain with staggered transverse field, which can be mapped onto the system of dimerized spinless fermions with p-wave superconductivity. The quantum phase boundaries are straight crossing degeneracy lines in 3D parameter space. We show that the nodal line acts as a vortex filament associated with a vector field, which is generated from the Zak phase of Bogoliubov-de Gennes band. We also investigate the topological invariant in Majorana fermion representation for open chain. The Majorana edge modes are not zero mode, but is still protected by energy gap. The exact mid-gap states of the Majorana lattice allows to obtain the corresponding Majorana probability distribution for whole 3D parameter space, which can establish a scalar field to identify the topological feature of the nodal lines. Furthermore, when we switch on a weak tunneling between two ends of the Majorana lattice, the topological invariants of the nodal lines can be obtained by the pumped Majorana probability from an adiabatic passage encircling the lines. Numerical simulations of quasi-adiabatic time evolution is performed in small system. We compute the current to monitor the transport of Majorana fermion, which exhibits evident character of topological pumping. Our results link the bulk topological invariant to the dynamical behavior of Majorana edge mode, extending the concept of bulk-edge correspondence.