No Arabic abstract
Topological nodal-line semimetals with exotic quantum properties are characterized by symmetry-protected line-contact bulk band crossings in the momentum space. However, in most of identified topological nodal-line compounds, these topological non-trivial nodal lines are enclosed by complicated topological trivial states at the Fermi energy ($E_F$), which would perplex their identification and hinder further applications. Utilizing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we provide compelling evidence for the existence of Dirac nodal-line fermions in the monoclinic semimetal SrAs$_3$, which are close to $E_F$ and away from distraction of complex trivial Fermi surfaces or surface states. Our calculation indicates that two bands with opposite parity are inverted around emph{Y} near $E_F$, which results in the single nodal loop at the $Gamma$-emph{Y}-emph{S} plane with a negligible spin-orbit coupling effect. We track these band crossings and then unambiguously identify the complete nodal loop quantitatively, which provides a critical experimental support to the prediction of nodal-line fermions in the CaP$_3$ family of materials. Hosting simple topological non-trivial bulk electronic states around $E_F$ and no interfering with surface states on the natural cleavage plane, SrAs$_3$ is expected to be a potential platform for topological quantum state investigation and applications.
Dirac nodal-line semimetals with the linear bands crossing along a line or loop, represent a new topological state of matter. Here, by carrying out magnetotransport measurements and performing first-principle calculations, we demonstrate that such a state has been realized in high-quality single crystals of SrAs3. We obtain the nontrivial pi Berry phase by analysing the Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations. We also observe a robust negative longitudinal magnetoresistance induced by the chiral anomaly. Accompanying first-principles calculations identify that a single hole pocket enclosing the loop nodes is responsible for these observations.
Previously known three-dimensional Dirac semimetals (DSs) occur in two types -- topological DSs and nonsymmorphic DSs. Here we present a novel three-dimensional DS that exhibits both features of the topological and nonsymmorphic DSs. We introduce a minimal tight-binding model for the space group 100 that describes a layered crystal made of two-dimensional planes in the $p4g$ wallpaper group. Using this model, we demonstrate that double glide-mirrors allow a noncentrosymmetric three-dimensional DS that hosts both symmetry-enforced Dirac points at time-reversal invariant momenta and twofold-degenerate Weyl nodal lines on a glide-mirror-invariant plane in momentum space. The proposed DS allows for rich topological physics manifested in both topological surface states and topological phase diagrams, which we discuss in detail. We also perform first-principles calculations to predict that the proposed DS is realized in a set of existing materials BaLa$X$B$Y_5$, where $X$ = Cu or Au, and $Y$ = O, S, or Se.
Dirac semi-metals show a linear electronic dispersion in three dimension described by two copies of the Weyl equation, a theoretical description of massless relativistic fermions. At the surface of a crystal, the breakdown of fermion chirality is expected to produce topological surface states without any counterparts in high-energy physics nor conventional condensed matter systems, the so-called Fermi Arcs. Here we present Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations involving the Fermi Arc states in Focused Ion Beam prepared microstructures of Cd$_3$As$_2$. Their unusual magnetic field periodicity and dependence on sample thickness can be well explained by recent theoretical work predicting novel quantum paths weaving the Fermi Arcs together with chiral bulk states, forming Weyl orbits. In contrast to conventional cyclotron orbits, these are governed by the chiral bulk dynamics rather than the common momentum transfer due to the Lorentz force. Our observations provide evidence for direct access to the topological properties of charge in a transport experiment, a first step towards their potential application.
Topological antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics is an emerging field of research, which exploits the Neel vector to control the topological electronic states and the associated spin-dependent transport properties. A recently discovered Neel spin-orbit torque has been proposed to electrically manipulate Dirac band crossings in antiferromagnets; however, a reliable AFM material to realize these properties in practice is missing. Here, we predict that room temperature AFM metal MnPd$_{2}$ allows the electrical control of the Dirac nodal line by the Neel spin-orbit torque. Based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, we show that reorientation of the Neel vector leads to switching between the symmetry-protected degenerate state and the gapped state associated with the dispersive Dirac nodal line at the Fermi energy. The calculated spin Hall conductivity strongly depends on the Neel vector orientation and can be used to experimentally detect the predicted effect using a proposed spin-orbit torque device. Our results indicate that AFM Dirac nodal line metal MnPd$_{2}$ represents a promising material for topological AFM spintronics.
The past decade has seen a proliferation of topological materials for both insulators and semimetals in electronic systems and classical waves. Topological semimetals exhibit topologically protected band degeneracies, such as nodal points and nodal lines. Dirac nodal line semimetals (DNLS), which own four-fold line degeneracy, have drawn particular attention. DNLSs have been studied in electronic systems but there is no photonic DNLS. Here in this work, we provide a new mechanism which is unique for photonic systems to investigate a stringent photonic DNLS. When truncated, the photonic DNLS exhibits double-bowl states (DBS), which comprises two sets of perpendicularly polarized surface states. In sharp contrast to nondegenerate surface states in other photonic systems, here the two sets of surface states are almost degenerate over the whole spectrum range. The DBS and the bulk Dirac nodal ring (DNR) dispersion along the relevant directions, are experimentally resolved.