A 1d lattice model for the boundary of the quantum spin-Hall insulator

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 1d lattice model that captures key boundary properties of 2d quantum spin-Hall insulators, including fractional charge and Kramers degeneracy, using a local Hilbert space with non-onsite symmetry.

Contribution

It provides a novel 1d lattice model with a non-onsite symmetry action that reproduces essential boundary phenomena of quantum spin-Hall insulators.

Findings

Model exhibits fractional charge on T-domain walls

Model shows Kramers parity switching with flux threading

Ground state corresponds to Luttinger-liquid phase

Abstract

We present a 1d lattice model that mimics the boundary of the conventional 2d quantum spin-Hall insulator (QSHI) with $U(1)$ symmetry and time-reversal $T$, satisfying $T^2 = (-1)^F$. Our construction utilizes a local tensor product Hilbert space of finite site dimension with a non-onsite symmetry action. We discuss how several signature properties of the QSHI, such as the fractional charge on $T$-domain walls and Kramers parity switching upon $\pi$-flux threading, are manifested in our treatment. We also present a 1d Hamiltonian whose ground state realizes the conventional Luttinger-liquid phase of the QSHI edge.