Topological Semimetals in the SnTe Material Class

Nodal Lines and Weyl Points

Journal article (2019)

Authors

A. Lau QN/Akhmerov Group - AS , Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft
Carmine Ortix University of Salerno, Universiteit Utrecht
Research Group
QN/Akhmerov Group (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 A. Lau, Carmine Ortix
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.186801
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

QN/Quantum Nanoscience

Research Group

QN/Akhmerov Group

Abstract

We theoretically show that IV-VI semiconducting compounds with lowerature rhombohedral crystal structure represent a new potential platform for topological semimetals. By means of minimal k·p models, we find that the two-step structural symmetry reduction of the higherature rocksalt crystal structure, comprising a rhombohedral distortion along the [111] direction followed by a relative shift of the cation and anion sublattices, gives rise to topologically protected Weyl semimetal and nodal line semimetal phases. We derive general expressions for the nodal features and apply our results to SnTe, showing explicitly how Weyl points and nodal lines emerge in this system. Experimentally, the topological semimetals could potentially be realized in the lowerature ferroelectric phase of SnTe, GeTe, and related alloys.