Three-dimensional $${\mathbb {Z}}$$ topological insulators without reflection symmetry

Abstract

In recent decades, the Altland-Zirnabuer (AZ) table has proven incredibly powerful in delineating constraints for topological classification of a given band-insulator based on dimension and (nonspatial) symmetry class, and has also been expanded by considering additional crystalline symmetries. Nevertheless, realizing a three-dimensional (3D), time-reversal symmetric (class AII) topological insulator (TI) in the absence of reflection symmetries, with a classification beyond the $${\mathbb {Z}}_{2}$$ Z 2 paradigm remains an open problem. In this work we present a general procedure for constructing such systems within the framework of projected topological branes (PTBs). In particular, a 3D projected brane from a “parent” four-dimensional topological insulator exhibits a $${\mathbb {Z}}$$ Z topological classification, corroborated through its response to the inserted bulk monopole loop. More generally, PTBs have been demonstrated to be an effective route to performing dimensional reduction and embedding the topology of a $$(d+1)$$ ( d + 1 ) -dimensional “parent” Hamiltonian in d dimensions, yielding lower-dimensional topological phases beyond the AZ classification without additional symmetries. Our findings should be relevant for the metamaterial platforms, such as photonic and phononic crystals, topolectric circuits, and designer systems.