Zak's Phase in Non-Symmetric One-Dimensional Crystals

Abstract: In this work, we derive some analytical properties of Berry's phase in one-dimensional quantum and classical crystals, also named Zak's phase, when computed with a Fourier basis. We show that Zak's phase can be divided in two terms: a global phase required to make the Bloch wave periodic in the Brillouin zone and an internal phase which measures the relative delay of the different Fourier terms within the Brillouin zone. While the former phase is dependent on the origin of coordinates of the unit cell, the latter is independent of it, so that it can be interpreted as an internal property of the band itself. We show that this internal phase is always zero for a symmetric crystal while it can take any value when this symmetry is broken, showing therefore that it can be interpreted as a measure of the assymetry of the band. Since for a symmetric crystal Zak's phase is entirely determined by the global part, we show that this can be easily calculated by means of the parity of the Fourier terms at the center and edge of the Brillouin zone, being therefore unnecessary the integration of the modes through the unit cell and the entire Brillouin zone. We provide numerical examples analyzing the internal part for both electronic and classical waves (acoustic or photonic). We analyze the weakest electronic potential capable of presenting asymmetry, as well as the double-Dirac delta potential, and in both examples it is found that the internal phase varies continuously as a function of a symmetry-control parameter, but it is zero when the crystal is symmetric. For classical waves, the layered material is analyzed. Although Zak's phase has been mainly studied in connection with the existence of edge states in finite crystals, we consider that the study of the internal phase can be more relevant to understand bulk properties of quantum and classical crystals.