Odd filling obstructs a spin-degenerate band insulator

ID: odd-filling-obstructs-a-spin-degenerate-band-insulator

In an independent-electron crystal with two spin states and no spin splitting, each completely filled energy band contains two electrons per primitive cell. An odd electron count per primitive cell therefore cannot fill an integer number of such bands. Enlarging the actual primitive cell, breaking the relevant degeneracy or including correlated-electron physics changes the premises. Even filling is necessary in this model but not sufficient: bands can overlap.

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