Electronic topology with bound defect charges promotes intermediate hexatic phase in two-dimensional melting

This paper delves into the intriguing connection between electronic topology and the two-dimensional melting of solids. Conventionally, Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory shows that the behavior of disclinations determines the melting process of 2D crystals. By uncovering how electrons become trapped in disclinations due to nontrivial electronic topology, the authors shed light here on a deviation of the disclination-involving melting process, because of the increase in the energy barrier for unbinding disclination pairs.