Spin Weyl Topological Insulators

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of spin Weyl topological insulators, characterized by gapless spin valence spectra, expanding the classification of topological phases based on spin properties in materials.

Contribution

It defines spin Weyl topological insulators and provides a new classification scheme based on the spin valence operator's properties.

Findings

Identification of spin Weyl topological insulators as a new class.

Characterization of their properties through spin valence spectrum.

Complementary classification to existing topological invariants.

Abstract

The quantum nature of electron spin is crucial for establishing topological invariants in real materials. Since the spin does not in general commute with the Hamiltonian, some of the topological features of the material can be extracted from its study. In insulating materials, the spin operator induces a projected operator on valence states called the spin valence operator. Its spectrum contains information with regard to the different phases of the spin Chern class. If the spin valence spectrum is gapped, the spin Chern numbers are constant along parallel planes thus defining spin Chern insulating materials. If the spin valence spectrum is not gapped, the changes in the spin Chern numbers occur whenever this spectrum is zero. Materials whose spin valence spectrum is gapless will be denoted spin Weyl topological insulators and their definition together with some of their properties will be presented in this work. The classification of materials from the properties of the spin valence operator provides a characterization that complements the existing list of topological invariants.