Orbital dynamics in 2D topological and Chern insulators

Abstract

Within a relativistic quantum formalism we examine the role of second-order corrections caused by the application of magnetic fields in two-dimensional topological and Chern insulators. This allows to reach analytical expressions for the change of the Berry curvature, orbital magnetic moment, density of states and energy determining their canonical grand potential and transport properties. The present corrections, which become relevant at relatively low fields due to the small gap characterizing these systems, determine the zero-field diamagnetic susceptibility of non-zero Berry curvature systems and unveil additional contributions from the magnetic field.

Keywords

• topological insulators
• Chern insulators
• Berry curvature