3D Network Model for Strong Topological Insulator Transitions

Understand

We construct a three-dimensional (3D), time-reversal symmetric generalization of the Chalker-Coddington network model for the integer quantum Hall transition.

• The novel feature of our network model is that in addition to a weak topological insulator phase already accommodated by the network model framework in the pre-existing literature, it hosts strong topological insulator phases as well.
• We unambiguously demonstrate that strong topological insulator phases emerge as intermediate phases between a trivial insulator phase and a weak topological phase.
• Additionally, we found a non-local transformation that relates a trivial insulator phase and a weak topological phase in our network model.