$Z_2$ Dirac points with topologically protected multihelicoid surface states

TL;DR

This paper reveals that multihelicoid surface states in Dirac systems arise from a bulk-surface correspondence linked to a redefined topological invariant, which is crucial for understanding topological phases with glide symmetry.

Contribution

It introduces a globally defined $Z_2$ topological invariant Q that characterizes MHSSs, clarifies its relation to the G-protected invariant v, and proposes material candidates and symmetry conditions for these states.

Findings

Q is a global topological invariant in k-space.

MHSSs appear when the redefined Q is nontrivial.

Material candidate Li2B4O7 is proposed.

Abstract

In some Dirac systems with time-reversal (T) and glide (G) symmetries, multihelicoid surface states (MHSSs) appear, as discussed in various systems such as electronic and photonic ones. However, the topological nature and the conditions for the appearance of the MHSSs have not been understood. Here we show that MHSSs result from bulk-surface correspondence for the $Z_2$ monopole charge Q, which cannot be defined as a local quantity associated with the Dirac point, unlike the Z monopole charge characterizing Weyl points. The previously known formula of Q turns out to be non-gauge-invariant and thus cannot characterize the MHSSs. This shortcoming of the definition of Q is amended by redefining Q as a global topological invariant in k-space. Surprisingly, the newly defined Q, characterizing GT invariant gapless systems, is equal to the G-protected $Z_2$ topological invariant v, which is nontrivial only in T-breaking gapped systems. This global definition of Q automatically guarantees the appearance of MHSSs even when the Dirac point splits into Weyl points or a nodal ring by lowering the symmetry, as long as the GT symmetry is preserved. Q can be simplified to symmetry-based indicators when two vertical Gs are preserved, and filling-enforced topological crystalline insulators are diagnosed in several cases when a T-breaking perturbation is induced. Material candidate Li2B4O7 together with a list of space groups preserving MHSSs are also proposed.