Twisted bilayer graphene. II. Stable symmetry anomaly

Zhi Da Song, Biao Lian, Nicolas Regnault, B. Andrei Bernevig

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104 Scopus citations

Abstract

We show that the entire continuous model of twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) (and not just the two active bands) with particle-hole symmetry is anomalous and hence incompatible with lattice models. Previous works [e.g., Z. Song, Z. Wang, W. Shi, G. Li, C. Fang, and B. A. Bernevig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 036401 (2019)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.123.036401; J. Ahn, S. Park, and B.-J. Yang, Phys. Rev. X 9, 021013 (2019)2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.9.021013; H. C. Po, L. Zou, T. Senthil, and A. Vishwanath, Phys. Rev. B 99, 195455 (2019)2469-995010.1103/PhysRevB.99.195455; J. Kang and O. Vafek, Phys. Rev. X 8, 031088 (2018)2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.8.031088; M. Koshino, N. F. Q. Yuan, T. Koretsune, M. Ochi, K. Kuroki, and L. Fu, Phys. Rev. X 8, 031087 (2018)2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.8.031087; J. Liu, J. Liu, and X. Dai, Phys. Rev. B 99, 155415 (2019)2469-995010.1103/PhysRevB.99.155415; L. Zou, H. C. Po, A. Vishwanath, and T. Senthil, Phys. Rev. B 98, 085435 (2018)2469-995010.1103/PhysRevB.98.085435] found that the two flatbands in TBG possess a fragile topology protected by the C2zT symmetry. Song et al. [Z. Song, Z. Wang, W. Shi, G. Li, C. Fang, and B. A. Bernevig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 036401 (2019)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.123.036401] also pointed out an approximate particle-hole symmetry (P) in the continuous model of TBG. In this paper, we numerically confirm that P is indeed a good approximation for TBG and show that the fragile topology of the two flatbands is enhanced to a P-protected stable topology. This stable topology implies 4l+2 (l N) Dirac points between the middle two bands. The P-protected stable topology is robust against arbitrary gap closings between the middle two bands and the other bands. We further show that, remarkably, this P-protected stable topology, as well as the corresponding 4l+2 Dirac points, cannot be realized in lattice models that preserve both C2zT and P symmetries. In other words, the continuous model of TBG is anomalous and cannot be realized on lattices. Two other topology related topics, with consequences for the interacting TBG problem, i.e., the choice of Chern band basis in the two flatbands and the perfect metal phase of TBG in the so-called second chiral limit, are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number205412
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume103
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 11 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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