pythtb.models.kane_mele#

kane_mele(delta, t, soc, rashba)[source]#

Kane-Mele tight-binding model.

Added in version 2.0.0.

This function creates a Kane-Mele tight-binding model with the specified parameters. The model is defined on a 2D honeycomb lattice with two sublattices. The lattice vectors are given by:

\[\mathbf{a}_1 = a(1, 0), \quad \mathbf{a}_2 = a\left(\frac{1}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right),\]

and the orbital positions are given by:

\[\mathbf{r}_1 = \frac{1}{3} \mathbf{a}_1 + \frac{1}{3} \mathbf{a}_2, \quad \mathbf{r}_2 = \frac{2}{3} \mathbf{a}_1 + \frac{2}{3} \mathbf{a}_2\]

The Hamiltonian in second-quantized form is given by:

\[\begin{split}H = \Delta \sum_{i} c_i^\dagger c_i + t \sum_{\langle i,j \rangle} ( c_i^\dagger c_j + h.c.) + \lambda_{SO} \sum_{\langle \langle i,j \rangle \rangle} ( c_i^\dagger \sigma_z c_j + \text{h.c.}) + \\ \lambda_{R} \sum_{\langle i,j \rangle} ( c_i^\dagger \mathbf{\sigma} \times \mathbf{\hat{d}}_{\langle i,j \rangle} c_j + \text{h.c.})\end{split}\]
Parameters:
onsitefloat

On-site energy.

tfloat, complex

Hopping parameter.

socfloat, complex

Spin-orbit coupling strength.

rashbafloat, complex

Rashba coupling strength.

Returns:
TBModel

An instance of the model.

Notes

The Kane-Mele model describes a two-dimensional topological insulator with spin-orbit coupling. It is defined on a honeycomb lattice and includes both intrinsic and Rashba spin-orbit coupling [kane-mele].

References

[kane-mele]

Kane, C. L., & Mele, E. J. (2005). Quantum Spin Hall Effect in Graphene. Physical Review Letters, 95(22), 226801.