Hyperbolic Fractional Chern insulators

TL;DR

This paper explores fractional Chern insulators in hyperbolic geometry, revealing two types of $ u=1/2$ FCI states with unique edge excitations and geometry-dependent properties, expanding understanding beyond Euclidean models.

Contribution

It introduces hyperbolic FCIs constructed in hyperbolic geometry, demonstrating the existence of conventional and unconventional $ u=1/2$ FCI states with novel edge and wave function characteristics.

Findings

Evidence of two types of $ u=1/2$ FCI states in hyperbolic lattices

Multiple edge excitation branches observed

Geometry influences FCI wave functions and states

Abstract

Fractional Chern insulators (FCIs) have attracted intensive attention for the realization of fractional quantum Hall states in the absence of an external magnetic field. Most of FCIs have been proposed on two-dimensional (2D) Euclidean lattice models with various boundary conditions. In this work, we investigate hyperbolic FCIs which are constructed in hyperbolic geometry with constant negative curvature. Through the studies on hyperbolic analogs of kagome lattices with hard-core bosons loaded into topological flat bands, we find convincing numerical evidences of two types of $\nu=1/2$ FCI states, {\emph {i.e.}}, the conventional and unconventional FCIs. Multiple branches of edge excitations and geometry-dependent wave functions for both conventional and unconventional $\nu=1/2$ FCI states are revealed, however, the geometric degree of freedom in these FCIs plays various roles. Additionally, a center-localized orbital plays a crucial role in the unconventional FCI state.