Nonequilibrium superfield and lattice Weyl transform transport approach to quantum Hall effect

Abstract

We derive the topological Chern number of the integer quantum Hall effect in electrical conductivity, using Buot's superfield and lattice Weyl transform nonequilibrium quantum transport formalism. The method is naturally straightforward, appropriate for treating nonequilibrium systems acted on by external electromagnetic fields. We have identified the topological invariant in the effective (~p; ~q; E; t)-phase space via the nonequilibrium quantum transport equation, generally not to first-order in electric field but to first-order in the gradient expansion. We have also derive the Kubo current-current correlation for the Hall current as a by-product of our new transport approach. The Berry curvature related to orbital magnetic moment is also calculated.