Abstract Spin-orbit coupling in noncentrosymmetric crystals leads to spin-momentum locking – a directional relationship between an electron’s spin angular momentum and its linear momentum. Isotropic orthogonal Rashba spin-momentum locking has been studied for decades, while its counterpart, isotropic parallel Weyl spin-momentum locking has remained elusive in experiments. Theory predicts that Weyl spin-momentum locking can only be realized in structurally chiral cubic crystals in the vicinity of Kramers-Weyl or multifold fermions. Here, we use spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to evidence Weyl spin-momentum locking of multifold fermions in the chiral topological semimetal PtGa. We find that the electron spin of the Fermi arc surface states is orthogonal to their Fermi surface contour for momenta close to the projection of the bulk multifold fermion at the Γ point, which is consistent with Weyl spin-momentum locking of the latter. The direct measurement of the bulk spin texture of the multifold fermion at the R point also displays Weyl spin-momentum locking. The discovery of Weyl spin-momentum locking may lead to energy-efficient memory devices and Josephson diodes based on chiral topological semimetals.
more »
« less
Anisotropic resistance with a 90° twist in a ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal, Co2MnGa
Abstract Weyl semimetals exhibit exotic magnetotransport phenomena such as the chiral anomaly and surface-to-bulk quantum oscillations (Weyl orbits) due to chiral bulk states and topologically protected surface states. Here we report a unique transport property in crystals of the ferromagnetic nodal-line Weyl semimetal Co2MnGa that have been polished to micron thicknesses using a focused ion beam. These thin crystals exhibit a large planar resistance anisotropy (10 × ) with axes that rotate by 90 degrees between opposite faces of the crystal. We use symmetry arguments and electrostatic simulations to show that the observed anisotropy resembles that of an isotropic conductor with surface states that are impeded from hybridization with bulk states. The origin of these states awaits further experiments that can correlate the surface bands with the observed 90° twist.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2011750
- PAR ID:
- 10508178
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Communications
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract Dirac and Weyl semimetals both exhibit arc-like surface states. However, whereas the surface Fermi arcs in Weyl semimetals are topological consequences of the Weyl points themselves, the surface Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals are not directly related to the bulk Dirac points, raising the question of whether there exists a topological bulk-boundary correspondence for Dirac semimetals. In this work, we discover that strong and fragile topological Dirac semimetals exhibit one-dimensional (1D) higher-order hinge Fermi arcs (HOFAs) as universal, direct consequences of their bulk 3D Dirac points. To predict HOFAs coexisting with topological surface states in solid-state Dirac semimetals, we introduce and layer a spinful model of ans–d-hybridized quadrupole insulator (QI). We develop a rigorous nested Jackiw–Rebbi formulation of QIs and HOFA states. Employing ab initio calculations, we demonstrate HOFAs in both the room- (α) and intermediate-temperature (α″) phases of Cd3As2, KMgBi, and rutile-structure ($$ \beta ^{\prime} $$ -) PtO2.more » « less
-
Abstract The physical realization of Chern insulators is of fundamental and practical interest, as they are predicted to host the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect and topologically protected chiral edge states which can carry dissipationless current. Current realizations of the QAH state often require complex heterostructures and sub-Kelvin temperatures, making the discovery of intrinsic, high temperature QAH systems of significant interest. In this work we show that time-reversal symmetry breaking Weyl semimetals, being essentially stacks of Chern insulators with inter-layer coupling, may provide a new platform for the higher temperature realization of robust chiral edge states. We present combined scanning tunneling spectroscopy and theoretical investigations of the magnetic Weyl semimetal, Co3Sn2S2. Using modeling and numerical simulations we find that depending on the strength of the interlayer coupling, chiral edge states can be localized on partially exposed kagome planes on the surfaces of a Weyl semimetal. Correspondingly, our dI/dVmaps on the kagome Co3Sn terraces show topological states confined to the edges which display linear dispersion. This work provides a new paradigm for realizing chiral edge modes and provides a pathway for the realization of higher temperature QAH effect in magnetic Weyl systems in the two-dimensional limit.more » « less
-
Abstract Contrary to topological insulators, topological semimetals possess a nontrivial chiral anomaly that leads to negative magnetoresistance and are hosts to both conductive bulk states and topological surface states with intriguing transport properties for spintronics. Here, we fabricate highly-ordered metallic Pt3Sn and Pt3SnxFe1-xthin films via sputtering technology. Systematic angular dependence (both in-plane and out-of-plane) study of magnetoresistance presents surprisingly robust quadratic and linear negative longitudinal magnetoresistance features for Pt3Sn and Pt3SnxFe1-x, respectively. We attribute the anomalous negative longitudinal magnetoresistance to the type-II Dirac semimetal phase (pristine Pt3Sn) and/or the formation of tunable Weyl semimetal phases through symmetry breaking processes, such as magnetic-atom doping, as confirmed by first-principles calculations. Furthermore, Pt3Sn and Pt3SnxFe1-xshow the promising performance for facilitating the development of advanced spin-orbit torque devices. These results extend our understanding of chiral anomaly of topological semimetals and can pave the way for exploring novel topological materials for spintronic devices.more » « less
-
Abstract Topological semimetals represent a novel class of quantum materials displaying non‐trivial topological states that host Dirac/Weyl fermions. The intersection of Dirac/Weyl points gives rise to essential properties in a wide range of innovative transport phenomena, including extreme magnetoresistance, high mobilities, weak antilocalization, electron hydrodynamics, and various electro‐optical phenomena. In this study, the electronic, transport, phonon scattering, and interrelationships are explored in single crystals of the topological semimetal HfAs2. It reveals a weak antilocalization effect at low temperatures with high carrier density, which is attributed to perfectly compensated topological bulk and surface states. The angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) results show anisotropic Fermi surfaces and surface states indicative of the topological semimetal, further confirmed by first‐principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, the lattice dynamics in HfAs2are investigated both with the Raman scattering and density functional theory. The phonon dispersion, density of states, lattice thermal conductivity, and the phonon lifetimes are computed to support the experimental findings. The softening of phonons, the broadening of Raman modes, and the reduction of phonon lifetimes with temperature suggest the enhancement of phonon anharmonicity in this new topological material, which is crucial for boosting the thermoelectric performance of topological semimetals.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

