Resonant helical multi-edge transport in Sierpi\'nski carpets

Abstract

In recent years, synthesis and experimental research of fractalized materials has evolved in a paradigmatic crossover with topological phases of matter. We present here a theoretical investigation of the helical edge transport in Sierpinski carpets (SCs), combining the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ) model and the Landauer approach. Starting from a pristine two-dimensional topological insulator (2DTI), according to the BHZ model, our results reveal resonant transport modes when the SC fractal generation reaches the same scale as the space discretization; these modes are analyzed within a contour plot mapping of the local spin-polarized currents, shown spanned and assisted by inner-edge channels. From such a deeply fractalized SC building block, we introduce a rich tapestry formed by superior SC hierarchies, enlightening intricate patterns and unique fingerprints that offer valuable insights into how helical edge transport occurs in these fractal dimensions.