Stability of Weyl metals under impurity scattering

Abstract

We investigate the effects of bulk impurities on the electronic spectrum of Weyl semimetals, a recently identified class of Dirac-type materials. Using a $T$-matrix approach, we study resonant scattering due to a localized impurity in tight binding versions of the continuum models recently discussed by Burkov, Hook, and Balents, describing perturbed four-component Dirac fermions in the vicinity of a critical point. The impurity potential is described by a strength $g$ as well as a matrix structure $\Lambda$. Unlike the case in d-wave superconductors, where a zero energy resonance can always be induced by varying the impurity scalar and/or magnetic impurity strength, we find that for certain types of impurity ($\Lambda$), the Weyl node is protected, and that a scalar impurity will induce an intragap resonance over a wide range of scattering strength. A general framework is developed to address this question, as well as to determine the dependence of resonance energy on the impurity strength.

arXiv comment5 pages, 4 figures. Minor typo corrected. Published version

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• Thermoelectric transport in double-Weyl semimetals
• Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction in Weyl semimetals
• Universal optical conductivity of a disordered Weyl semimetal
• Global Phase Diagram of a Dirty Weyl Liquid and Emergent Superuniversality
• Dissolution of topological Fermi arcs in a dirty Weyl semimetal
• Superconducting proximity effect and Majorana flat bands in the surface of a Weyl semimetal
• Weyl semimetals and superconductors designed in an orbital selective superlattice
• Electronic Cooling in Weyl and Dirac Semimetals
• High Surface Conductivity of Fermi Arc Electrons in Weyl semimetals
• Signatures of Weyl semimetals in quasiparticle interference
• Universal response of the type-II Weyl semimetals phase diagram
• Disorder effect on chiral edge modes and anomalous Hall conductance in Weyl semimetals
• Effects of anisotropy and disorder on the conductivity of Weyl semimetals
• Quantum transport in 3D Weyl semimetals: Is there a metal-insulator transition?
• Impurity-induced resonant states in topological nodal-line semimetals
• Effect of incommensurate potential on nodal-link semimetals
• Absence of quantization in the circular photogalvanic effect in disordered chiral Weyl semimetals
• Fate of Weyl semimetals in the presence of incommensurate potentials
• Neutron scattering off Weyl semimetals
• Electron scattering by magnetic impurity in Weyl semimetals
• Metal-insulator transition in three-dimensional semiconductors