AIII and BDI Topological Systems at Strong Disorder

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 $ν$, 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 $ν=0 \rightarrow ν=1 \rightarrow ν=2$ 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 $ν=0$ and $ν=2$ is generated. These two phases are also found to be separated by an Anderson localization-delocalization transition, hence proving their distinct identity.

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