Realizing type-II Weyl points in an optical lattice

The recent discovery of the Lorentz symmetry-violating “type-II” Weyl semimetal phase has renewed interest in the study of Weyl physics in condensed-matter systems. However, tuning the exceptional properties of this novel state has remained a challenge. Optical lattices, created using standing laser...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shastri, Kunal, Yang, Zhaoju, Zhang, Baile
Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/83984
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/42915
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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Summary:The recent discovery of the Lorentz symmetry-violating “type-II” Weyl semimetal phase has renewed interest in the study of Weyl physics in condensed-matter systems. However, tuning the exceptional properties of this novel state has remained a challenge. Optical lattices, created using standing laser beams, provide a convenient platform to tune tunneling parameters continuously in time. In this paper, we propose a generalized two level system exhibiting type-II Weyl points that can be realized using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. The system is engineered using a three-dimensional lattice with complex π phase tunneling amplitudes. Various unique properties of the type-II Weyl semimetal such as open Fermi surface, anomalous chirality, and topological Fermi arcs can be probed using the proposed optical lattice scheme.