Electrodynamic response of type II Weyl semimetals

Abstract

Weyl fermions play a major role in quantum field theory but have been quite elusive as fundamental particles. Materials based on quasi two-dimensional bismuth layers were recently designed and provide an arena for the study of the interplay between anisotropic Dirac fermions, magnetism and structural changes, allowing the formation of Weyl fermions in condensed matter. Here, we perform an optical investigation of YbMnBi${}_2$, a representative type II Weyl semimetal, and contrast its excitation spectrum with the optical response of the more conventional semimetal EuMnBi${}_2$. Our comparative study allows us disentangling the optical fingerprints of type II Weyl fermions, but also challenge the present theoretical understanding of their electrodynamic response.

References in corpus (2)

• Chiral anomaly and optical absorption in Weyl semimetals
• Effect of Eu magnetism on the electronic properties of the candidate Dirac material EuMnBi2

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Topological Weyl and Node-Line Semimetals in Ferromagnetic Vanadium-Phosphorous-Oxide $\beta$-V${}_2$OPO${}_4$ Compound
• Optical properties of a semi-Dirac material
• Transport and optics at the node in a nodal loop semimetal
• Optical signature of Weyl electronic structures in tantalum pnictides Ta$Pn$ ($Pn=$ P, As)
• Absorption of circular polarized light in tilted Type-I and II Weyl semimetals
• Origin of the Type-II Weyl state in topological antiferromagnetic YbMnBi2
• Spin dynamics of a magnetic Weyl semimetal Sr${}_{1-x}$Mn${}_{1-y}$Sb${}_2$
• Optical conductivity of the type-II Weyl semimetal WTe${}_2$ under pressure
• Optical response in Weyl semimetal in model with gapped Dirac phase
• Coupling of magnetism and Dirac fermions in YbMnSb2