Topological meaning of Z2 numbers in time reversal invariant systems
Abstract
We show that the Z2 invariant, which classifies the topological properties of time reversal invariant insulators, has deep relationship with the global anomaly. Although the second Chern number is the basic topological invariant characterizing time reversal systems, we show that the relative phase between the Kramers doublet reduces the topological quantum number Z to Z2.
0