Topological properties of a periodic condensed matter system are global features of its Brillouin zone (BZ). In contrast, the validity of effective low energy theories is usually limited to the vicinity of a high symmetry point in the BZ. We derive a general criterion under which the control parameter of a topological phase transition localizes the topological defect in an arbitrarily small neighbourhood of a single point in k-space upon approaching its critical value. Such a local phase transition is associated with a Dirac-like gap closing point, whereas a flat band transition is not localized in k-space. This mechanism and its limitations are illustrated with the help of experimentally relevant examples such as HgTe/CdTe quantum wells and bilayer graphene nanostructures.
@article{arxiv.1102.3282,
title = {Local topological phase transitions in periodic condensed matter systems},
author = {Jan Carl Budich and Björn Trauzettel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1102.3282},
year = {2012}
}