We study theoretically the interplay effect of Zeeman field and modulated spin-orbit coupling on the topological properties of a one-dimensional dimerized lattice, known as Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. We find that in the weak (strong) modulated spin-orbit coupling regime, trivial regions or nontrivial ones with two pairs of zero-energy states can be turned into nontrivial regions by applying a uniform (staggered) perpendicular Zeeman field through a topological phase transition. Furthermore, the resulting nontrivial phase hosting a pair of zero-energy boundary states can survive within a certain range of the perpendicular Zeeman field magnitude. Due to the effective time-reversal, particle-hole, chiral, and inversion symmetries, in the presence of either a uniform or a staggered perpendicular Zeeman field, the topological class of the system is BDI, which can be characterized by $\mathbb{Z}$ index. We also examine the robustness of the nontrivial phase by breaking the underlying symmetries, which results in that inversion symmetry plays an important role.

• Received 13 March 2016
• Revised 25 July 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.125119