Correlation functions of the Kitaev model with a spatially modulated phase in the superconducting order parameter

The Kitaev model with a spatially modulated phase in the superconducting order parameter exhibits two types of topological transitions, namely a band topology transition between trivial and topological gapped phases, and a Fermi surface Lifshitz transition from a gapped to a gapless superconducting state. We investigate the correlation functions of the model for arbitrary values of superconducting coupling $\Delta_0$, chemical potential $\mu$, and phase modulation wavevector $Q$, characterizing the current flowing through the system. In the cases $\mu=0$ or $Q=\pm \pi/2$ correlations are proven to exhibit an even/odd effect as a function of the distance $l$ between two lattice sites, as they are non-vanishing or strictly vanishing depending on the parity of $l$. We identify a clear difference between the two types of transitions through the $Q$-dependence of the short distance correlation functions. In particular, they exhibit pronounced cusps with discontinuous derivatives across the Lifshitz transition. We also determine the long distance behavior of correlations, finding various types of exponential decays in the gapped phase, and an algebraic decay characterized by two different spatial periods in the gapless phase. Furthermore, we establish a connection between the gapless superconducting phase of the Kitaev model and the chiral phase of spin models with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.
Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures