P T -invariant Weyl semimetals in gauge-symmetric systems

TY - JOUR

T1 - P T -invariant Weyl semimetals in gauge-symmetric systems

AU - Lepori, L.

AU - Fulga, I. C.

AU - Trombettoni, A.

AU - Burrello, M.

PY - 2016/8/5

Y1 - 2016/8/5

N2 - Weyl semimetals typically appear in systems in which either time-reversal (T ) or inversion (P ) symmetry is broken. Here we show that in the presence of gauge potentials these topological states of matter can also arise in fermionic lattices preserving both T and P . We analyze in detail the case of a cubic lattice model with π fluxes, discussing the role of gauge symmetries in the formation of Weyl points and the difference between the physical and the canonical T and P symmetries. We examine the robustness of this P T -invariant Weyl semimetal phase against perturbations that remove the chiral sublattice symmetries, and we discuss further generalizations. Finally, motivated by advances in ultracold-atom experiments and by the possibility of using synthetic magnetic fields, we study the effect of random perturbations of the magnetic fluxes, which can be compared to a local disorder in realistic scenarios.

AB - Weyl semimetals typically appear in systems in which either time-reversal (T ) or inversion (P ) symmetry is broken. Here we show that in the presence of gauge potentials these topological states of matter can also arise in fermionic lattices preserving both T and P . We analyze in detail the case of a cubic lattice model with π fluxes, discussing the role of gauge symmetries in the formation of Weyl points and the difference between the physical and the canonical T and P symmetries. We examine the robustness of this P T -invariant Weyl semimetal phase against perturbations that remove the chiral sublattice symmetries, and we discuss further generalizations. Finally, motivated by advances in ultracold-atom experiments and by the possibility of using synthetic magnetic fields, we study the effect of random perturbations of the magnetic fluxes, which can be compared to a local disorder in realistic scenarios.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.085107

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.085107

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2469-9950

VL - 94

SP - 85107

JO - Physical Review B

JF - Physical Review B

IS - 8

ER -