The hallmark of Weyl semimetals is the existence of open constant-energy contours on their surface - the so-called Fermi arcs - connecting Weyl points. Here, we show that, for time-reversal symmetric realizations of Weyl semimetals, these Fermi arcs, in many cases, coexist with closed Fermi pockets originating from surface Dirac cones pinned to time-reversal invariant momenta. The existence of Fermi pockets is required for certain Fermi-arc connectivities due to additional restrictions imposed by the six Z2 topological invariants characterizing a generic time-reversal invariant Weyl semimetal. We show that a change of the Fermi-arc connectivity generally leads to a different topology of the surface Fermi surface and identify the half-Heusler compound LaPtBi under in-plane compressive strain as a material that realizes this surface Lifshitz transition. We also discuss universal features of this coexistence in quasiparticle interference spectra.

Generic Coexistence of Fermi Arcs and Dirac Cones on the Surface of Time-Reversal Invariant Weyl Semimetals

Ortix, Carmine
2017-01-01

Abstract

The hallmark of Weyl semimetals is the existence of open constant-energy contours on their surface - the so-called Fermi arcs - connecting Weyl points. Here, we show that, for time-reversal symmetric realizations of Weyl semimetals, these Fermi arcs, in many cases, coexist with closed Fermi pockets originating from surface Dirac cones pinned to time-reversal invariant momenta. The existence of Fermi pockets is required for certain Fermi-arc connectivities due to additional restrictions imposed by the six Z2 topological invariants characterizing a generic time-reversal invariant Weyl semimetal. We show that a change of the Fermi-arc connectivity generally leads to a different topology of the surface Fermi surface and identify the half-Heusler compound LaPtBi under in-plane compressive strain as a material that realizes this surface Lifshitz transition. We also discuss universal features of this coexistence in quasiparticle interference spectra.
2017
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/4706763
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