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Creating stable Floquet–Weyl semimetals by laser-driving of 3D Dirac materials

Author

Listed:
  • Hannes Hübener

    (Nano-Bio Spectroscopy Group and ETSF, Universidad del País Vasco, CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU)

  • Michael A. Sentef

    (Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Center for Free Electron Laser Science)

  • Umberto De Giovannini

    (Nano-Bio Spectroscopy Group and ETSF, Universidad del País Vasco, CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU
    Universitá degli Studi di Palermo)

  • Alexander F. Kemper

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Angel Rubio

    (Nano-Bio Spectroscopy Group and ETSF, Universidad del País Vasco, CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU
    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Center for Free Electron Laser Science)

Abstract

Tuning and stabilizing topological states, such as Weyl semimetals, Dirac semimetals or topological insulators, is emerging as one of the major topics in materials science. Periodic driving of many-body systems offers a platform to design Floquet states of matter with tunable electronic properties on ultrafast timescales. Here we show by first principles calculations how femtosecond laser pulses with circularly polarized light can be used to switch between Weyl semimetal, Dirac semimetal and topological insulator states in a prototypical three-dimensional (3D) Dirac material, Na3Bi. Our findings are general and apply to any 3D Dirac semimetal. We discuss the concept of time-dependent bands and steering of Floquet–Weyl points and demonstrate how light can enhance topological protection against lattice perturbations. This work has potential practical implications for the ultrafast switching of materials properties, such as optical band gaps or anomalous magnetoresistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannes Hübener & Michael A. Sentef & Umberto De Giovannini & Alexander F. Kemper & Angel Rubio, 2017. "Creating stable Floquet–Weyl semimetals by laser-driving of 3D Dirac materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13940
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13940
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    Cited by:

    1. Bing Cheng & Di Cheng & Tao Jiang & Wei Xia & Boqun Song & Martin Mootz & Liang Luo & Ilias E. Perakis & Yongxin Yao & Yanfeng Guo & Jigang Wang, 2024. "Chirality manipulation of ultrafast phase switches in a correlated CDW-Weyl semimetal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Zhongqiang Chen & Hongsong Qiu & Xinjuan Cheng & Jizhe Cui & Zuanming Jin & Da Tian & Xu Zhang & Kankan Xu & Ruxin Liu & Wei Niu & Liqi Zhou & Tianyu Qiu & Yequan Chen & Caihong Zhang & Xiaoxiang Xi &, 2024. "Defect-induced helicity dependent terahertz emission in Dirac semimetal PtTe2 thin films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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