Multicriticality in a one-dimensional topological band insulator

Abstract

A central tenet in the theory of quantum phase transitions (QPTs) is that a nonanalyticity in the ground-state energy in the thermodynamic limit implies a QPT. Here we report on a finding that challenges this assertion. As a case study we take a phase diagram of a one-dimensional band insulator with spin-orbit coupled electrons, supporting trivial and topological gapped phases separated by intersecting critical surfaces. The intersections define multicritical lines across which the ground-state energy becomes nonanalytical, concurrent with a closing of the band gap, but with no phase transition taking place.

arXiv comment9 pages, 7 figures; published version, results unchanged; references added

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Signatures of topological phase transition on a quantum critical line
• A supervised learning algorithm for interacting topological insulators based on local curvature
• Topological quantum phase transitions and criticality in a longer-range Kitaev chain
• Topological phase transition between non-high symmetry critical phases and curvature function renormalization group
• Scaling behavior in a multicritical one-dimensional topological insulator
• Designing nontrivial one-dimensional Floquet topological phases using a spin-1/2 double-kicked rotor
• Topological states in chiral electronic chains
• Scaling of Quantum Geometry Near the Non-Hermitian Topological Phase Transitions