High-field magnetoconductivity study of a candidate Weyl semimetal

ORAL

Abstract

The monopnictides have attracted considerable attention recently due to their conjectured linear band crossings in momentum space. Upon breaking time-reversal or inversion symmetry, the spin-degeneracy at a Dirac node can be lifted to reveal two Weyl points that are characterized by a right- and left-handedness (chirality). These `Weyl semimetals' are expected to host exotic phenomena, including topological Fermi arc surface states and unusual magnetotransport properties. The search for such materials, however, is complicated by the additional presence of trivial (non-Weyl) sections of Fermi surface. Thus, we use high magnetic fields to isolate the the zeroth Landau levels at the Weyl nodes, and measure microstructured transport devices to avoid ``current-jetting'' effects common in such high mobility systems. We measure the longitudinal and transverse magnetoconductivity in the quantum limit of NbP, a candidate Weyl semimetal, to look for experimental signatures that characterize a Weyl state.

Authors

  • Kimberly Modic

    • Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
    • Max Planck Institute
  • Brad J. Ramshaw

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
    • Los Alamos National Labs
  • Ross McDonald

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Philip Ronning

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Arkady Shekhter

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Toni Helm

    • Max Planck Institute
  • Maja Bachmann

    • Max Planck Institute
  • Philip Moll

    • Max Planck Institute