Realizing type-II Weyl points in an optical lattice

• Main Authors: Shastri, Kunal, Yang, Zhaoju, Zhang, Baile
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Photonics; Bosons
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/83984; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/42915
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

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.