The Position Space Chern Number: A Topological Index for Chiral Magnetic Systems

Abstract

This paper introduces an index that categorizes the topology of insulating chiral magnetic systems. The position space Chern number, $C_R$ is distinct from its momentum space counterpart, $C_K$. A nonzero index guarantees the existence of topologically protected in-gap states that localize on the edge of local potential barriers in momentum space. The Chern-Simons effective field theory describing position space Chern insulators reveals a topologically quantized correlation between transverse force operators that describe the flow of quanta in momentum space. We demonstrate the existence of nonzero $C_R$ in systems hosting skyrmion magnetic phases and show how the index generalizes the classical concept of a skyrmion winding number. Lastly we investigate the competition between momentum space and position space topologies, and highlight an apparent obstruction to having systems with both $C_R \neq 0$ and $C_K \neq 0$.