Two-leg Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain with glide reflection symmetry

Abstract

The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model lays the foundation of many important concepts in quantum topological matters. Since it tells one that topological states may be distinguished by abelian geometric phases, a question naturally arises as to what happens if one assembles two topologically distinct states. Here, we show that a spin-dependent double-well optical lattice allows one to couple two topologically distinct SSH chains in the bulk and realise a glided-two-leg SSH model that respects the glide reflection symmetry. Such model gives rise to intriguing quantum phenomena beyond the paradigm of a traditional SSH model. It is characterised by Wilson line that requires non-abelian Berry connections, and the interplay between the glide symmetry and interaction automatically leads to charge fractionalisation without jointing two lattice potentials at an interface. Our work demonstrates the power of ultracold atoms to create new theoretical models for studying topological matters.