Neutron scattering and magnetic excitations in Weyl semimetal NdAlSi

ORAL

Abstract

Realizing time-reversal symmetry breaking by magnetic order in Weyl semimetals has been a long-standing goal, one that can potentially lead to unique physical phenomena. NdAlSi is an interesting example of a non-centrosymmetric material where Weyl electrons may mediate the magnetic exchange interactions that result in a helical magnetic structure. To gain further insight into the relevant exchange interactions in NdAlSi, we used inelastic neutron scattering to probe the magnetic excitations in the paramagnetic, incommensurate, and commensurate states of NdAlSi. We highlight the importance of the crystal electric field; our approach to modeling the data; and how we might gain more insight into possible Weyl-mediated exchange interactions.

**This work was supported as part of the Institute for Quantum Matter, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences under Award No. DE-SC0019331.

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Presenters

  • Chris J Lygouras

    • Johns Hopkins University

Authors

  • Chris J Lygouras

    • Johns Hopkins University

  • Jonathan Gaudet

    • Johns Hopkins University

  • Hung-Yu Y Yang

    • Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
    • University of California, Los Angeles
    • Boston College

  • Xiaohan Yao

    • Boston College
    • Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467, USA

  • Andrey Podlesnyak

    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Predrag Nikolic

    • George Mason University

  • Jose A Rodriguez

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research

  • Fazel Tafti

    • Boston College
    • Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
    • Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467, USA

  • Collin L Broholm

    • John Hopkins University
    • Johns Hopkins University