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Register a new userPrediction of Ideal Topological Semimetals with Triply Degenerate Points in NaCu$_3$Te$_2$ Family
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Triply degenerate points (TDPs) in band structure of a crystal can generate novel TDP fermions without high-energy counterparts. Although identifying ideal TDP semimetals, which host clean TDP fermions around the Fermi level ($E_F$) without coexisting of other quasiparticles, is critical to explore the intrinsic properties of this new fermion, it is still a big challenge and has not been achieved up to now. Here, we disclose an effective approach to search for ideal TDP semimetals via selective band crossing between antibonding $s$ and bonding $p$ orbitals along a line in the momentum space with $C_{3v}$ symmetry. Applying this approach, we have successfully identified the NaCu$_3$Te$_2$ family of compounds to be ideal TDP semimetals, where two and only two pairs of TDPs are located around the $E_F$. Moreover, we reveal an interesting mechanism to modulate energy splitting between a pair of TDPs, and illustrate the intrinsic features of TDP Fermi arcs in these ideal TDP semimetals.
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Using first-principles calculation and symmetry analysis, we propose that theta-TaN is a topological semimetal having a new type of point nodes, i.e., triply degenerate nodal points. Each node is a band crossing between degenerate and non-degenerate bands along the high-symmetry line in the Brillouin zone, and is protected by crystalline symmetries. Such new type of nodes will always generate singular touching points between different Fermi surfaces and 3D spin texture around them. Breaking the crystalline symmetry by external magnetic field or strain leads to various of topological phases. By studying the Landau levels under a small field along $c$-axis, we demonstrate that the system has a new quantum anomaly that we call helical anomaly.
Quantum states of matter combining non-trivial topology and magnetism attract a lot of attention nowadays; the special focus is on magnetic topological insulators (MTIs) featuring quantum anomalous Hall and axion insulator phases. Feasibility of many novel phenomena that emph{intrinsic} magnetic TIs may host depends crucially on our ability to engineer and efficiently tune their electronic and magnetic structures. Here, using angle- and spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy along with emph{ab initio} calculations we report on a large family of intrinsic magnetic TIs in the homologous series of the van der Waals compounds (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$)(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_m$ with $m=0, ..., 6$. Magnetic, electronic and, consequently, topological properties of these materials depend strongly on the $m$ value and are thus highly tunable. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling between the neighboring Mn layers strongly weakens on moving from MnBi2Te4 (m=0) to MnBi4Te7 (m=1), changes to ferromagnetic (FM) one in MnBi6Te10 (m=2) and disappears with further increase in m. In this way, the AFM and FM TI states are respectively realized in the $m=0,1$ and $m=2$ cases, while for $m ge 3$ a novel and hitherto-unknown topologically-nontrivial phase arises, in which below the corresponding critical temperature the magnetizations of the non-interacting 2D ferromagnets, formed by the MBT, building blocks, are disordered along the third direction. The variety of intrinsic magnetic TI phases in (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$)(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_m$ allows efficient engineering of functional van der Waals heterostructures for topological quantum computation, as well as antiferromagnetic and 2D spintronics.
Combining robust magnetism, strong spin-orbit coupling and unique thickness-dependent properties of van der Waals crystals could enable new spintronics applications. Here, using density functional theory, we propose the (MnSb$_2$Te$_4$)$cdot$(Sb$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$ family of stoichiometric van der Waals compounds that harbour multiple topologically-nontrivial magnetic phases. In the groundstate, the first three members of the family, i.e. MnSb$_2$Te$_4$, ($n=0$), MnSb$_4$Te$_7$, ($n=1$), and MnSb$_6$Te$_{10}$, ($n=2$), are 3D antiferromagnetic topological insulators (AFMTIs), while for $n geq 3$ a special phase is formed, in which a nontrivial topological order coexists with a partial magnetic disorder in the system of the decoupled 2D ferromagnets, whose magnetizations point randomly along the third direction. Furthermore, due to a weak interlayer exchange coupling, these materials can be field-driven into the FM Weyl semimetal ($n=0$) or FM axion insulator states ($n geq 1$). Finally, in two dimensions we reveal these systems to show intrinsic quantum anomalous Hall and AFM axion insulator states, as well as quantum Hall state, achieved under external magnetic field, but without Landau levels. Our results provide a solid computational proof that MnSb$_2$Te$_4$, is not topologically trivial as was previously believed that opens possibilities of realization of a wealth of topologically-nontrivial states in the (MnSb$_2$Te$_4$)$cdot$(Sb$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$ family.
As a new type of fermions without counterpart in high energy physics, triply degenerate fermions show exotic physical properties, which are represented by triply degenerate nodal points in topological semimetals. Here, based on the space group theory analysis, we propose a practical guidance for seeking a topological semimetal with triply degenerate nodal points located at a symmetric axis, which is applicable to both symmorphic and nonsymmorphic crystals. By using this guidance in combination with the first-principles electronic structure calculations, we predict a class of triply degenerate topological semimetals RERh$_{6}$Ge$_{4}$ (RE=Y, La, Lu). In these compounds, the triply degenerate nodal points are located at the $Gamma$-A axis and not far from the Fermi level. Especially, LaRh$_{6}$Ge$_{4}$ has a pair of triply degenerate nodal points located very closely to the Fermi level. Considering the fact that the single crystals of RERh$_{6}$Ge$_{4}$ have been synthesized experimentally, the RERh$_{6}$Ge$_{4}$ class of compounds will be an appropriate platform for studying exotic physical properties of triply degenerate topological semimetals.
In the newly discovered magnetic topological insulator MnBi$_2$Te$_4$, both axion insulator state and quantized anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) have been observed by tuning the magnetic structure. The related (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$)$_m$(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$ heterostructures with increased tuning knobs, are predicted to be a more versatile platform for exotic topological states. Here, we report angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies on a series of the heterostructures (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$, MnBi$_4$Te$_7$ and MnBi$_6$Te$_{10}$). A universal gapless Dirac cone is observed at the MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ terminated (0001) surfaces in all systems. This is in sharp contrast to the expected gap from the original antiferromagnetic ground state, indicating an altered magnetic structure near the surface, possibly due to the surface termination. In the meantime, the electron band dispersion of the surface states, presumably dominated by the top surface, is found to be sensitive to different stackings of the underlying MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ and Bi$_2$Te$_3$ layers. Our results suggest the high tunability of both magnetic and electronic structures of the topological surface states in (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$)$_m$(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$ heterostructures, which is essential in realizing various novel topological states.
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