Euler--Chern Correspondence via Topological Superconductivity

Abstract

The Fermi sea topology is characterized by the Euler characteristics $\chi_F$. In this paper, we examine how $\chi_F$ of the metallic state is inhereted by the topological invariant of the superconducting state. We establish a correspondence between the Euler characteristic and the Chern number $C$ of $p$-wave topological superconductors without time-reversal symmetry in two dimensions. By rewriting the pairing potential $\Delta_{\bf k}=\Delta_1-i\Delta_2$ as a vector field ${\bf u}=(\Delta_1,\Delta_2)$, we found that $\chi_F=C$ when ${\bf u}$ and fermion velocity ${\bf v}$ can be smoothly deformed to be parallel or antiparallel on each Fermi surface. We also discuss a similar correspondence between Euler characteristic and 3D winding number of time-reversal-invariant $p$-wave topological superconductors in three dimensions.