Theory of Topological Quantum Phase Transitions in 3D Noncentrosymmetric Systems

Abstract

We construct a general theory describing the topological quantum phase transitions in 3D systems with broken inversion symmetry. While the consideration of the system's codimension generally predicts the appearance of a stable metallic phase between the normal and topological insulators, it is shown that a direct topological phase transition between two insulators is also possible when an accidental band crossing occurs along directions with high crystalline symmetry. At the quantum critical point, the energy dispersion becomes quadratic along one direction while the dispersions along the other two orthogonal directions are linear, which manifests the zero chirality of the band touching point. Because of the anisotropic dispersion at quantum critical point, various thermodynamic and transport properties show unusual temperature dependence and anisotropic behaviors. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.086402