AIII and BDI topological systems at strong disorder

Abstract

Using an explicit 1-dimensional model, we provide direct evidence that the one-dimensional topological phases from the AIII and BDI symmetry classes follow a $\mathbb Z$-classification, even in the strong disorder regime when the Fermi level is embedded in a dense localized spectrum. The main tool for our analysis is the winding number $\nu$, in the non-commutative formulation introduced in I. Mondragon-Shem, J. Song, T. L. Hughes, and E. Prodan, arXiv:1311.5233. For both classes, by varying the parameters of the model and/or the disorder strength, a cascade of sharp topological transitions $\nu=0 \rightarrow \nu=1 \rightarrow \nu=2$ is generated, in the regime where the insulating gap is completely filled with the localized spectrum. We demonstrate that each topological transition is accompanied by an Anderson localization-delocalization transition. Furthermore, to explicitly rule out a $\mathbb Z_2$ classification, a topological transition between $\nu=0$ and $\nu=2$ is generated. These two phases are also found to be separated by an Anderson localization-delocalization transition, hence proving their distinct identity.