Abstract
We elucidate the general rule governing the response of dislocation lines in three-dimensional topological band insulators. According to this rule, the lattice topology, represented by dislocation lines oriented in direction with Burgers vector , combines with the electronic-band topology, characterized by the band-inversion momentum , to produce gapless propagating modes when the plane orthogonal to the dislocation line features a band inversion with a nontrivial ensuing flux . Although it has already been discovered by Ran et al. [Nat. Phys. 5, 298 (2009)] that dislocation lines host propagating modes, the exact mechanism of their appearance in conjunction with the crystal symmetries of a topological state is provided by the rule. Finally, we discuss possible experimentally consequential examples in which the modes are oblivious to the direction of propagation, such as the recently proposed topologically insulating state in electron-doped .
- Received 18 February 2014
- Revised 21 November 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.241403
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