Weyl and Dirac semimetals with Z2 topological charge

Takahiro Morimoto and Akira Furusaki
Phys. Rev. B 89, 235127 – Published 24 June 2014

Abstract

We study the stability of gap-closing (Weyl or Dirac) points in the three-dimensional Brillouin zone of semimetals using Clifford algebras and their representation theory. We show that a pair of Weyl points with Z2 topological charge are stable in a semimetal with time-reversal and reflection symmetries when the square of the product of the two symmetry transformations equals minus identity. We present toy models of Z2 Weyl semimetals which have surface modes forming helical Fermi arcs. We also show that Dirac points with Z2 topological charge are stable in a semimetal with time-reversal, inversion, and SU(2) spin rotation symmetries when the square of the product of time-reversal and inversion equals plus identity. Furthermore, we briefly discuss the topological stability of point nodes in superconductors using Clifford algebras.

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  • Received 31 March 2014
  • Revised 19 May 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.235127

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Takahiro Morimoto1 and Akira Furusaki1,2

  • 1Condensed Matter Theory Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
  • 2RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan

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Issue

Vol. 89, Iss. 23 — 15 June 2014

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