Field-Tunable One-Sided Higher-Order Topological Hinge States in Dirac Semimetals

Abstract

Recently, higher-order topological matter and 3D quantum Hall effects have attracted great attention. The Fermi-arc mechanism of the 3D quantum Hall effect proposed in Weyl semimetals is characterized by the one-sided hinge states, which do not exist in all the previous quantum Hall systems and more importantly pose a realistic example of the higher-order topological matter. The experimental effort so far is in the Dirac semimetal Cd${}_3$As${}_2$, where however time-reversal symmetry leads to hinge states on both sides of the top/bottom surfaces, instead of the aspired one-sided hinge states. We propose that under a tilted magnetic field, the hinge states in Cd${}_3$As${}_2$-like Dirac semimetals can be one-sided, highly tunable by field direction and Fermi energy, and robust against weak disorder. Furthermore, we propose a scanning tunneling Hall measurement to detect the one-sided hinge states. Our results will be insightful for exploring not only the quantum Hall effects beyond two dimensions, but also other higher-order topological insulators in the future.

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Cited by in corpus (3)

• Quantum Hall effect originated from helical edge states in Cd${}_3$As${}_2$
• Anisotropic three-dimensional quantum Hall effect and magnetotransport in mesoscopic Weyl semimetals
• Topological nature of higher-order hinge states revealed by spin transport