A topological characterization of delocalization in a spin-orbit coupling system

Abstract

We show that wavefunctions in a two-dimensional (2D) electron system with spin-orbit coupling can be characterized by a topological quantity--the Chern integer due to the existence of the intrinsic Kramers degeneracy. The localization-delocalization transition in such a system is studied in terms of such a Chern number description, which reproduces the known metal-insulator transition point. The present work suggests a unified picture for various known 2D delocalization phenomena based on the same topological characterization.

RevTex, 12 pages; Two PostScript figures

References in corpus (7)

• Relation between the Correlation Dimensions of Multifractal Wavefunctions and Spectral Measures in Integer Quantum Hall Systems
• A Unified Model for Two Localisation Problems: Electron States in Spin-Degenerate Landau Levels, and in a Random Magnetic Field
• Localization of Charged Quantum Particles in a Static Random Magnetic Field
• Effective Field Theory of Electron Motion in the Presence of Random Magnetic Flux
• Delocalization of electrons in a Random Magnetic Field
• Two-dimensional electron transport in the presence of magnetic flux vortices
• Universal Fluctuation of the Hall Conductance in the Random Magnetic Field

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Phase Diagram for Quantum Hall Bilayers at $\nu =1$
• Mobility gap in fractional quantum Hall liquids: Effects of disorder and layer thickness
• The effect of in-plane magnetic field on the spin Hall effect in Rashba-Dresselhaus system
• Spin Hall Effect and Spin Transfer in Disordered Rashba Model
• Nondissipative Drag Conductance as a Topological Quantum Number
• Quantum and Classical Superballistic Transport in a Relativistic Kicked-Rotor System
• The scaling behavior of the insulator to plateau transition in topological band model
• Edge states and topological properties of electrons on the bismuth on silicon surface with giant spin-orbit coupling