Topological Hierarchy Insulators and Topological Fractal Insulators

Abstract

Topological insulators are new states of quantum matter with metallic edge/surface states. In this paper, we pointed out that there exists a new type of particle-hole symmetry-protected topological insulator - topological hierarchy insulator (THI), a composite topological state of a (parent) topological insulator and its defect-induced topological mid-gap states. A particular type of THI is topological fractal insulator, that is a THI with self-similar topological structure. In the end, we discuss the possible experimental realizations of THIs.