Abstract

One-dimensional tight binding models such as the Aubry-Andre-Harper (AAH) model (with an on-site cosine potential) and the integrable Maryland model (with an on-site tangent potential) have been the subject of extensive theoretical research in localization studies. AAH can be directly mapped onto the two-dimensional (2D) Hofstadter model which manifests the integer quantum Hall topology on a lattice. However, such a connection needs to be made for the Maryland model (MM). Here we describe a generalized model that contains AAH and MM as the limiting cases with the MM lying precisely at a topological quantum phase transition (TQPT) point. A remarkable feature of this critical point is that the one-dimensional MM retains well defined energy gaps whereas the equivalent 2D model becomes gapless, signifying the 2D nature of the TQPT.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2014
Volume
90
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.90.041405
Journal
Physical Review B
Contributors