Unification of topological invariants in Dirac models

Topological phases of materials are characterized by topological invariants that are conventionally calculated by different means according to the dimension and symmetry class of the system. For topological materials described by Dirac models, we introduce a wrapping number as a unified approach to obtain the topological invariants in arbitrary dimensions and symmetry classes. Given a unit vector that parametrizes the momentum dependence of the Dirac model, the wrapping number describes the degree of the map from the Brillouin zone torus to the sphere formed by the unit vector that we call the Dirac sphere. This method is gauge-invariant and originates from the intrinsic features of the Dirac model and moreover places all known topological invariants, such as the Chern number, winding number, Pfaffian, etc, on equal footing.

Automated summary

This article introduces a unified approach to obtain topological invariants in arbitrary dimensions and symmetry classes by introducing a wrapping number for topological materials described by Dirac models. This method is gauge-invariant, originates from the intrinsic features of the Dirac model, and places all known topological invariants on equal footing.