A magnetic topological semimetal Sr 1− y Mn 1− z Sb 2 ( y , z < 0.1)
TL;DR: In this paper, the relativistic fermion behavior of the magnetic semimetal Sr1−yMn1−zSb2 (y, z < 0.1) was investigated.
Abstract: Weyl (WSMs) evolve from Dirac semimetals in the presence of broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) or space-inversion symmetry. The WSM phases in TaAs-class materials and photonic crystals are due to the loss of space-inversion symmetry. For TRS-breaking WSMs, despite numerous theoretical and experimental efforts, few examples have been reported. In this Article, we report a new type of magnetic semimetal Sr1−yMn1−zSb2 (y, z < 0.1) with nearly massless relativistic fermion behaviour (m∗ = 0.04 − 0.05m0, where m0 is the free-electron mass). This material exhibits a ferromagnetic order for 304 K < T < 565 K, but a canted antiferromagnetic order with a ferromagnetic component for T < 304 K. The combination of relativistic fermion behaviour and ferromagnetism in Sr1−yMn1−zSb2 offers a rare opportunity to investigate the interplay between relativistic fermions and spontaneous TRS breaking. Sr1−yMn1−zSb2 (y, z < 0.1) is reported to be a magnetic topological semimetal exhibiting nearly massless relativistic fermions.
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215 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the topological semimetals (TSMs) from a chemistry perspective, and describe key features of TSMs, embedded in their electronic structure, and how they can be achieved.
Abstract: Initiated by the discovery of topological insulators, topologically non-trivial materials have attracted immense interest in the physics community in the past decade. One of the latest additions to the field, the material class of topological semimetals (TSMs), has grown at an extremely fast rate. While the prototype TSM, graphene, has been known for a while, the first 3D analogues of graphene have only been discovered recently. This Review, written from a chemistry perspective, intends to make the growing field of TSMs accessible to the wider community of materials scientists and scholars from related disciplines. To this end, we describe key features of TSMs, embedded in their electronic structure, and how they can be achieved based on chemical principles. We introduce the different classes of TSMs and review their salient representatives. Finally, selected properties and potential applications of these materials are discussed.
176 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: By performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, a pair of 3D Dirac fermions in Cd3As2 are directly observed, proving that it is a model 3D TDS and by in situ doping it is able to tune its Fermi energy, making it a flexible platform for exploring exotic physical phenomena.
Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) topological Dirac semimetals (TDSs) are a recently proposed state of quantum matter that have attracted increasing attention in physics and materials science. A 3D TDS is not only a bulk analogue of graphene; it also exhibits non-trivial topology in its electronic structure that shares similarities with topological insulators. Moreover, a TDS can potentially be driven into other exotic phases (such as Weyl semimetals, axion insulators and topological superconductors), making it a unique parent compound for the study of these states and the phase transitions between them. Here, by performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we directly observe a pair of 3D Dirac fermions in Cd3As2, proving that it is a model 3D TDS. Compared with other 3D TDSs, for example, β-cristobalite BiO2 (ref. 3) and Na3Bi (refs 4, 5), Cd3As2 is stable and has much higher Fermi velocities. Furthermore, by in situ doping we have been able to tune its Fermi energy, making it a flexible platform for exploring exotic physical phenomena.
166 citations
01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: In this article, the first observation of chiral magnetic effect through the measurement of magneto-transport in zirconium pentatelluride, ZrTe₅ was reported.
Abstract: The chiral magnetic effect is the generation of electric current induced by chirality imbalance in the presence of magnetic field. It is a macroscopic manifestation of the quantum anomaly in relativistic field theory of chiral fermions (massless spin 1/2 particles with a definite projection of spin on momentum) – a dramatic phenomenon arising from a collective motion of particles and antiparticles in the Dirac sea. The recent discovery of Dirac semimetals with chiral quasi-particles opens a fascinating possibility to study this phenomenon in condensed matter experiments. Here we report on the first observation of chiral magnetic effect through the measurement of magneto-transport in zirconium pentatelluride, ZrTe₅. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments show that this material’s electronic structure is consistent with a 3D Dirac semimetal. We observe a large negative magnetoresistance when magnetic field is parallel with the current. The measured quadratic field dependence of the magnetoconductance is a clear indication of the chiral magnetic effect. Furthermore, the observed phenomenon stems from the effective transmutation of Dirac semimetal into a Weyl semimetal induced by the parallel electric and magnetic fields that represent a topologically nontrivial gauge field background.
132 citations
TL;DR: The SAMR phenomena is explained theoretically as a consequence of controllable high-resistance domain walls, arising from the breaking of magnetic point group symmetry strongly coupled to a nearly nodal electronic structure.
Abstract: Transport coefficients of correlated electron systems are often useful for mapping hidden phases with distinct symmetries. Here we report a transport signature of spontaneous symmetry breaking in the magnetic Weyl semimetal cerium-aluminum-germanium (CeAlGe) system in the form of singular angular magnetoresistance (SAMR). This angular response exceeding 1000% per radian is confined along the high-symmetry axes with a full width at half maximum reaching less than 1° and is tunable via isoelectronic partial substitution of silicon for germanium. The SAMR phenomena is explained theoretically as a consequence of controllable high-resistance domain walls, arising from the breaking of magnetic point group symmetry strongly coupled to a nearly nodal electronic structure. This study indicates ingredients for engineering magnetic materials with high angular sensitivity by lattice and site symmetries.
88 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, the main formulas governing the analysis of the Bragg magnetic scattering are summarized and shortly discussed and the method of profile fitting without a structural model to get precise integrated intensities and refine the propagation vector(s) of the magnetic structure is discussed.
Abstract: In spite of intrinsic limitations, neutron powder diffraction is, and will still be in the future, the primary and most straightforward technique for magnetic structure determination. In this paper some recent improvements in the analysis of magnetic neutron powder diffraction data are discussed. After an introduction to the subject, the main formulas governing the analysis of the Bragg magnetic scattering are summarized and shortly discussed. Next, we discuss the method of profile fitting without a structural model to get precise integrated intensities and refine the propagation vector(s) of the magnetic structure. The simulated annealing approach for magnetic structure determination is briefly discussed and, finally, some features of the program FullProf concerning the magnetic structure refinement are presented and discussed. The different themes are illustrated with simple examples.
11,923 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the topological semimetal, a three-dimensional phase of a magnetic solid, is described and it may be realized in a class of pyrochlore iridates based on calculations using the LDA+U$ method.
Abstract: We investigate novel phases that emerge from the interplay of electron correlations and strong spin-orbit interactions. We focus on describing the topological semimetal, a three-dimensional phase of a magnetic solid, and argue that it may be realized in a class of pyrochlore iridates (such as ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$) based on calculations using the $\text{LDA}+U$ method. This state is a three-dimensional analog of graphene with linearly dispersing excitations and provides a condensed-matter realization of Weyl fermions that obeys a two-component Dirac equation. It also exhibits remarkable topological properties manifested by surface states in the form of Fermi arcs, which are impossible to realize in purely two-dimensional band structures. For intermediate correlation strengths, we find this to be the ground state of the pyrochlore iridates, coexisting with noncollinear magnetic order. A narrow window of magnetic ``axion'' insulator may also be present. An applied magnetic field is found to induce a metallic ground state.
3,865 citations
TL;DR: The experimental discovery of a Weyl semimetal, tantalum arsenide (TaAs), using photoemission spectroscopy, which finds that Fermi arcs terminate on the Weyl fermion nodes, consistent with their topological character.
2,789 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the electronic structure of pyrochlore iridates was investigated using density functional theory, LDA+U method, and effective low energy models, and a remarkably rich phase diagram emerges on tuning the correlation strength U.
Abstract: In 5d transition metal oxides such as the iridates, novel properties arise from the interplay of electron correlations and spin-orbit interactions. We investigate the electronic structure of the pyrochlore iridates, (such as Y$_{2}$Ir$_{2}$O$_{7}$) using density functional theory, LDA+U method, and effective low energy models. A remarkably rich phase diagram emerges on tuning the correlation strength U. The Ir magnetic moment are always found to be non-collinearly ordered. However, the ground state changes from a magnetic metal at weak U, to a Mott insulator at large U. Most interestingly, the intermediate U regime is found to be a Dirac semi-metal, with vanishing density of states at the Fermi energy. It also exhibits topological properties - manifested by special surface states in the form of Fermi arcs, that connect the bulk Dirac points. This Dirac phase, a three dimensional analog of graphene, is proposed as the ground state of Y$_{2}$Ir$_{2}$O$_{7}$ and related compounds. A narrow window of magnetic `axion' insulator, with axion parameter $\theta=\pi$, may also be present at intermediate U. An applied magnetic field induces ferromagnetic order and a metallic ground state.
2,576 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the experimental discovery of a Weyl semimetal, tantalum arsenide (TaAs), was reported, which is a new state of matter that hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparticles and admits a topological classification that protects Fermi arcs on the boundary of a bulk sample.
Abstract: A Weyl semimetal is a new state of matter that hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparticles and admits a topological classification that protects Fermi arc surface states on the boundary of a bulk sample. This unusual electronic structure has deep analogies with particle physics and leads to unique topological properties. We report the experimental discovery of a Weyl semimetal, tantalum arsenide (TaAs). Using photoemission spectroscopy, we directly observe Fermi arcs on the surface, as well as the Weyl fermion cones and Weyl nodes in the bulk of TaAs single crystals. We find that Fermi arcs terminate on the Weyl fermion nodes, consistent with their topological character. Our work opens the field for the experimental study of Weyl fermions in physics and materials science.
2,272 citations