Quantized thermal current vortices

Abstract

The thermal Hall effect has emerged as a fundamental tool for probing exotic quasiparticles and topological order, particularly in magnetic insulators where electronic conduction is suppressed. Much like skyrmions, which are characterized by their topologically protected spin configurations, the thermal Hall effect is deeply rooted in the geometric properties of the underlying physical space. Although the effect is a well-established experimental phenomenon, current research points toward the existence of its quantum analogue: the quantized thermal Hall effect. In this paper, we provide a theoretical framework for this quantum version based on Sommerfeld's flux quantization. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential existence of dissipationless thermal current vortices. We suggest that these vortices may play a crucial role in the stability and dynamics of other topological structures, such as skyrmion lattices, offering a new perspective on the interplay between heat transport and magnetic textures.