Spin waves in magnetic Weyl semimetals

Intrinsic magnetic topological materials,namely the stoichiometric magnetic compounds possessing both inherent magnetic order and topological electronic states,have attracted tremendous interest in the research of condensed matter physics and materials science[1].Such materials not only bring new opportunities to realize many exotic topological phenomena under time-reversal symmetry breaking,but also show great potential in applications of quantum technology[2].     

Theory of magnetic oscillations in Weyl semimetals

Weyl semimetals are a new class of Dirac material that possesses bulk energy nodes in three dimensions, in contrast to two dimensional graphene. In this paper, we study a Weyl semimetal subject to an applied magnetic field. We find distinct behavior that can be used to identify materials containing three dimensional Dirac fermions. We derive expressions for the density of states, electronic specific heat, and the magnetization. We focus our attention on the quantum oscillations in the magnetization. We find phase shifts in the quantum oscillations that distinguish the Weyl semimetal from conventional three dimensional Schrödinger fermions, as well as from two dimensional Dirac fermions. The density of states as a function of energy displays a sawtooth pattern which has its origin in the dispersion of the three dimensional Landau levels. At the same time, the spacing in energy of the sawtooth spike goes like the square root of the applied magnetic field which reflects the Dirac nature of the fermions. These features are reflected in the specific heat and magnetization. Finally, we apply a simple model for disorder and show that this tends to damp out the magnetic oscillations in the magnetization at small fields.     

Anomalous Nernst effect in type-II Weyl semimetals

Topological Weyl semimetals (WSM), a new state of quantum matter with gapless nodal bulk spectrum and open Fermi arc surface states, have recently sparked enormous interest in condensed matter physics. Based on the symmetry and fermiology, it has been proposed that WSMs can be broadly classified into two types, type-I and type-II Weyl semimetals. While the undoped, conventional, type-I WSMs have point like Fermi surface and vanishing density of states (DOS) at the Fermi energy, the type-II Weyl semimetals break Lorentz symmetry explicitly and have tilted conical spectra with electron and hole pockets producing finite DOS at the Fermi level. The tilted conical spectrum and finite DOS at Fermi level in type-II WSMs have recently been shown to produce interesting effects such as a chiral anomaly induced longitudinal magnetoresistance that is strongly anisotropic in direction and a novel anomalous Hall effect. In this work, we consider the anomalous Nernst effect in type-II WSMs in the absence of an external magnetic field using the framework of semi-classical Boltzmann theory. Based on both a linearized model of time-reversal breaking WSM with a higher energy cut-off and a more realistic lattice model, we show that the anomalous Nernst response in these systems is strongly anisotropic in space, and can serve as a reliable signature of type-II Weyl semimetals in a host of magnetic systems with spontaneously broken time reversal symmetry.     

Intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in type-II Weyl semimetals

Recently, a new type of Weyl semimetal called type-II Weyl semimetal has been proposed. Unlike the usual (type-I) Weyl semimetal, which has a point-like Fermi surface, this new type of Weyl semimetal has a tilted conical spectrum around the Weyl point. Here we calculate the anomalous Hall conductivity of a Weyl semimetal with a tilted conical spectrum for a pair of Weyl points, using the Kubo formula. We find that the Hall conductivity is not universal and can change sign as a function of the parameters quantifying the tilts. Our results suggest that even for the case where the separation between the Weyl points vanishes, tilting of the conical spectrum could give rise to a finite anomalous Hall effect, if the tilts of the two cones are not identical.     

Three-dimensional quantum Hall effect in Weyl and double-Weyl semimetals

The well-known quantum Hall effect (QHE) was usually studied in 2D systems. In this work, we investigate the integer QHE in 3D Weyl and double-Weyl semimetals. Based on the lattice models of Weyl and double-Weyl semimetals subjected to a uniform magnetic field, we derive the generalized 3D spinfull Hofstadter Hamiltonians and Harper equations for the two systems, and obtain their corresponding energy spectra. Furthermore, we show that for proper hopping parameters and rational magnetic fluxes, both systems exhibit the 3D QHE when the Fermi level lies in some band gaps. The 3D QHE is topologically characterized by three Chern numbers with one or two nonzero Chern values which are respectively defined for three crystal planes. The possible experimental realization and detection of the 3D QHE are also discussed.     

Photocurrent in gyrotropic Weyl semimetals

Photocurrents in the Weyl semimetals belonging to the gyrotropic symmetry classes have been theoretically studied. It has been shown that the circular photocurrent transverse to the direction of light incidence appears in weakly gyrotropic crystals with the C _nv (n = 3, 4, 6) symmetry only when spin-dependent terms both linear and quadratic or cubic in the quasimomentum, as well as a spin-independent term resulting in the tilt of the cone dispersion, are taken into account in the electron effective Hamiltonian. A polarization-independent magnetic-field-induced photocurrent, which is allowed only in gyrotropic systems, has been predicted. For crystals with the C_2v symmetry, a microscopic mechanism of the photocurrent in a quantized magnetic field, which is generated in direct optical transitions between the ground and first excited magnetic subbands, has been considered. It has been shown that this photocurrent becomes nonzero in the presence of the anisotropic tilt of dispersion cones.     

Charge transport in Weyl semimetals

We study transport in Weyl semimetals with N isotropic Weyl nodes in the presence of Coulomb interactions or disorder at temperature T. In the interacting clean limit, we determine the conductivity σ(ω,T) by solving a quantum Boltzmann equation within a "leading log" approximation and find it to be proportional to T, up to logarithmic factors arising from the flow of couplings. In the noninteracting disordered case, we compute the Kubo conductivity and show that it behaves differently for ω < T and ω > T: in the former regime we recover a previous result, of a finite dc conductivity and a Drude width vanishing as NT(2); in the latter, we find that σ(ω,T) vanishes linearly with ω with a leading term as T → 0 equal to the clean, free-fermion result: σ(0)((N))(ω,T = 0) = Ne(2)/12h|ω|/v(F). We compare our results to transport data on Y(2)Ir(2)O(7) and comment on the possible relevance to recent experiments on Eu(2)Ir(2)O(7).     

Pressure-tuning domain-wall chirality in noncentrosymmetric magnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlGe

Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy - The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the largest and most sensitive single-dish radio telescope in the world and...     

Electron transport in Dirac and Weyl semimetals

Recently, the Dirac and Weyl semimetals have attracted extensive attention in condensed matter physics due to both the fundamental interest and the potential application of a new generation of electronic devices. Here we review the exotic electrical transport phenomena in Dirac andWeyl semimetals. Section 1 is a brief introduction to the topological semimetals(TSMs). In Section 2 and Section 3, the intriguing transport phenomena in Dirac semimetals(DSMs) andWeyl semimetals(WSMs) are reviewed, respectively. The most widely studied Cd_3A_(s2) and the TaAs family are selected as representatives to show the typical properties of DSMs and WSMs, respectively. Beyond these systems, the advances in other TSM materials,such as ZrTe_5 and the MoTe_2 family, are also introduced. In Section 4, we provide perspectives on the study of TSMs especially on the magnetotransport investigations.     

High-order harmonic generations in tilted Weyl semimetals

We investigate high-order harmonic generations (HHGs) under comparison of Weyl cones in two types. Due to the hyperboloidal electron pocket structure, strong noncentrosymmetrical generations in high orders are observed around a single type-II Weyl point, especially at zero frequency. Such a remarkable DC signal is proved to have attributions from the intraband transition after spectral decomposition. Under weak pulse electric field, the linear optical response of a non-tilted Weyl cone is consistent with the Kubo theory. With extensive numerical simulations, we conclude that the non-zero chemical potential can enhance the even-order generations, from the slightly tilted system to the over-tilted systems. In consideration of dynamical symmetries, type-I and type-II Weyl cones also show different selective responses under the circularly polarized light. Finally, using a more realistic model containing two pairs of Weyl points, we demonstrate that paired Weyl points with opposite chirality can suppress the overall even-order generations.     

Tunable anisotropic anomalous Nernst effect and orbital magnetization in Floquet Weyl semimetals

Weyl semimetals and nodal line semimetals display a host of novel properties. Floquet Weyl semimetals with tunable Weyl points can be obtained from nodal line semimetals under the circularly polarized off-resonant light. Here we theoretically investigate the anomalous Nernst effect and orbital magnetization in Floquet Weyl semimetals. Due to the anisotropy of the band structure in Floquet Weyl semimetals, highly anisotropic Berry phase mediated anomalous Nernst effect and orbital magnetization in the absence of magnetic field are observed, indicating orientation-dependent applications in the design of nanodevices. The amplitude and sign of anomalous Nernst coefficient and orbital magnetization can be tuned by the light direction, amplitude and polarization. The effect of the chemical potential on anomalous Nernst coefficient and orbital magnetization is also discussed. The light-modulated anomalous Nernst effect and orbital magnetization make Floquet Weyl semimetals potential candidates for thermoelectric devices.     

Non-Hermitian Weyl semimetals: Non-Hermitian skin effect and non-Bloch bulk-boundary correspondence

We investigate novel features of three-dimensional non-Hermitian Weyl semimetals,paying special attention to the unconventional bulk-boundary correspondence.We use the non-Bloch Chern numbers as the tool to obtain the topological phase diagram,which is also confirmed by the energy spectra from our numerical results.It is shown that,in sharp contrast to Hermitian systems,the conventional(Bloch)bulk-boundary correspondence breaks down in non-Hermitian topological semimetals,which is caused by the non-Hermitian skin effect.We establish the non-Bloch bulk-boundary correspondence for non-Hermitian Weyl semimetals:the topological edge modes are determined by the non-Bloch Chern number of the bulk bands.Moreover,these topological edge modes can manifest as the unidirectional edge motion,and their signatures are consistent with the non-Bloch bulk-boundary correspondence.Our work establishes the non-Bloch bulk-boundary correspondence for non-Hermitian topological semimetals.     

RKKY interaction in three-dimensional tilted Dirac and Weyl semimetals

We theoretically investigate the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction between two magnetic impurities of the tilted Dirac and Weyl semimetals in three dimensions. In accordance with the untilted scenario, the RKKY interaction contains three terms, namely the Heisenberg term, the Ising term, and the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya term. The main influence of tilt on the RKKY Hamiltonian is a modulation to the oscillation frequencies of range functions. Our results enrich the knowledge of the magnetic properties of materials with tilted Dirac cones and may see an important application in spintronics.     

Goos-Hänchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts in tilted Weyl semimetals

We establish the beam models of Goos-Hänchen (GH) and Imbert-Fedorov (IF) effects in tilted Weyl semimetals (WSMs), and systematically study the influences of Weyl cone tilting and chemical potential on the GH and IF shifts at a certain photon energy 1.96 eV. It is found that the GH and IF shifts in tilted type-I and type-Ⅱ WSMs are both almost symmetric about the Weyl cone tilting. Meanwhile, the GH and IF shifts in type-I WSMs almost do not change with the tilt degree of Weyl cones, while those in type-Ⅱ WSMs are extremely dependent on tilt degree. These trends are mainly due to the nearly symmetric distribution of WSMs conductivities, where the conductivities keep stable in type-I WSMs and gradually decrease with tilt degree in type-Ⅱ WSMs. By adjusting the chemical potential, the boundary between type-I and type-Ⅱ WSMs widens, and the dependence of the beam shifts on the tilt degree can be manipulated. Furthermore, by extending the relevant discussions to a wider frequency band, the peak fluctuation of GH shifts and the decrease of IF shifts occur gradually as the frequency increases, and the performance of beam shifts at photon energy 1.96 eV is equally suitable for other photon frequencies. The above findings provide a new reference for revisiting the beam shifts in tilted WSMs and determining the types of WSMs.     

Pressure-tuning domain-wall chirality in noncentrosymmetric magnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlGe

Topological magnetic Weyl semimetals have been proposed to host controllable chiral domain walls which bear a great prospect in device applications. To exploit them in applications, it is important to have a proper way to tune and manipulate these domain walls. One possible means is through magnetoelastic coupling. The involvement of rare earth in the lately proposed RAl X(R =rare earth, X = Si and Ge) family magnetic Weyl semimetals may provide such a platform. Here we present the transport and...     

Nonlinear skin effect in semimetals

The influence of nonlinearity on propagation of radio waves into semimetals in the geometry where the constant magnetic field H is directed along the trigonal axis of the crystal has been investigated. Strong magnetic Landau damping occurs in the linear mode in this geometry. It is shown that the electron capture by the magnetic field of a radio frequency wave of large amplitude decreases this absorption. As a result, the depth of the skin layer in the semimetal becomes the function of the amplitude of the exciting radio frequency field and can increase many times.     

Pairing in doped inversion-symmetric Weyl semimetals: a finite temperature analysis from Thouless criterion

In doped Weyl semimetal with inversion symmetry, the two pairing states, i.e., the zero momentum BCS pairing and the finite momentum Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) pairing are possible in principle. In this paper we use the standard Thouless criterion for the onset of pairings to investigate the leading pairing instability at the finite temperature. Our results suggest that both BCS and FFLO instabilities are possible depending on the on-site attractive interaction. The competition between the BCS pairing and FFLO pairing is driven by the mutual suppression between density of state near the Fermi surface and finite energy band structure in the whole Brillouin zone. For small and intermediate interaction, the former dominates and supports BCS pairing, while for strong interaction, the latter wins and favors FFLO pairing. We expect our results at the finite temperature can provide some important message to identify the true ground state.     

Quantum transport in topological semimetals under magnetic fields

Topological semimetals are three-dimensional topological states of matter, in which the conduction and valence bands touch at a finite number of points, i.e., the Weyl nodes. Topological semimetals host paired monopoles and antimonopoles of Berry curvature at the Weyl nodes and topologically protected Fermi arcs at certain surfaces. We review our recent works on quantum transport in topological semimetals, according to the strength of the magnetic field. At weak magnetic fields, there are competitions between the positive magnetoresistivity induced by the weak anti-localization effect and negative magnetoresistivity related to the nontrivial Berry curvature. We propose a fitting formula for the magnetoconductivity of the weak anti-localization. We expect that the weak localization may be induced by inter-valley effects and interaction effect, and occur in double-Weyl semimetals. For the negative magnetoresistance induced by the nontrivial Berry curvature in topological semimetals, we show the dependence of the negative magnetoresistance on the carrier density. At strong magnetic fields, specifically, in the quantum limit, the magnetoconductivity depends on the type and range of the scattering potential of disorder. The high-field positive magnetoconductivity may not be a compelling signature of the chiral anomaly. For long-range Gaussian scattering potential and half filling, the magnetoconductivity can be linear in the quantum limit. A minimal conductivity is found at the Weyl nodes although the density of states vanishes there.     

Site-specific chirality in magnetic transitions

We report site-specific energy loss magnetic dichroism measurements of the technologically interesting Heusler alloy Ni₂MnSn. In addition, we confirm the theoretical prediction that under certain conditions, two different atoms on inequivalent lattice sites give dichroic signals with opposite signs. With this, it is possible to distinguish the magnetic moments of atomic columns that are merely 1.5 Å apart using a conventional transmission electron microscope without the need for aberration corrections.