Abstract

Despite fermion doubling, a two-dimensional quasi-relativistic spin-1/2 system can still lead to true fractionalization of electrical charge, when a massive ordered phase supports a "half-vortex". Such topological defect is possible when the order parameter in form of Dirac mass is described by two U(1) angles, and each of them winds by an angle pi around a point. We demonstrate that such a mass configuration in an eight-dimensional Dirac Hamiltonian exhibits only a single bound zero mode, and therefore binds the charge of e/2. In graphene, for example, such an ordered phase is provided by the easy-plane spin-triplet Kekule valence bond solid. We argue that an application of an in-plane magnetic field can cause an excitonic instability toward such ordered phase, even for weak repulsion, when the on-site, nearest-neighbor, and second neighbor components of it are of comparable strengths.

Publication Details
Author
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2016
Volume
93
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.93.155415
Journal
Physical Review B
Contributors
Groups