Project Details
Projekt
Interacting Topological Insulators
Applicant
Professor Dr. Ronny Thomale, since 10/2017
Subject Area
Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Term
from 2013 to 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 237558156
The project belongs to the area ``New Materials and Concepts'' and aims to investigate interaction effects in topological insulators (TIs). Focusing on both electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions, we will address the question to what extent these can give rise to new topological phases or modify the existing ones. Our theory proposal is motivated, on the one hand, by the search for the first oxide-based correlated TI and, on the other hand, by recent exciting developments concerning topological phases of composite quasiparticles. Our research will cover a broad spectrum of physical systems and materials, ranging from interacting electrons in one-dimensional helical edge states, via two-dimensional correlated TIs with hexagonal lattice structure such as transition metal oxides A2TO3 and trilayers of ABO3 perovskites, up to three-dimensional strong TIs and Weyl semimetals on the pyrochlore lattice. As we will present in detail below, most of our subprojects require a combination of established techniques in which the authors are experts. In addition, we intend to develop as a high-risk high-reward subproject a polaron theory for TI materials in the strong-coupling limit. In order to achieve all these ambitious tasks, we will use a combination of analytical mean-field theories and perturbative schemes, as well as numerical approaches.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
International Connection
Luxembourg
Partner Organisation
Fonds National de la Recherche
Co-Investigator
Professor Dr. Thomas L. Schmidt
Ehemaliger Antragsteller
Dr. Stephan Rachel, until 9/2017
