Orbital dynamics in 2D topological and Chern insulators

Abstract

Within a relativistic quantum formalism we examine the role of second-order corrections caused by the application of magnetic fields in two-dimensional topological and Chern insulators. This allows to reach analytical expressions for the change of the Berry curvature, orbital magnetic moment, density of states and energy determining their canonical grand potential and transport properties. The present corrections, which become relevant at relatively low fields due to the small gap characterizing these systems, unveil a zero-field diamagnetic susceptibility which can be tuned by the external magnetic field.