30 research outputs found
Topological Hamiltonian as an Exact Tool for Topological Invariants
We propose the concept of `topological Hamiltonian' for topological
insulators and superconductors in interacting systems. The eigenvalues of
topological Hamiltonian are significantly different from the physical energy
spectra, but we show that topological Hamiltonian contains the information of
gapless surface states, therefore it is an exact tool for topological
invariants.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
New Family of Robust 2D Topological Insulators in van der Waals Heterostructures
We predict a new family of robust two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators
in van der Waals heterostructures comprising graphene and chalcogenides BiTeX
(X=Cl, Br and I). The layered structures of both constituent materials produce
a naturally smooth interface that is conducive to proximity induced new
topological states. First principles calculations reveal intrinsic
topologically nontrivial bulk energy gaps as large as 70-80 meV, which can be
further enhanced up to 120 meV by compression. The strong spin-orbit coupling
in BiTeX has a significant influence on the graphene Dirac states, resulting in
the topologically nontrivial band structure, which is confirmed by calculated
nontrivial Z2 index and an explicit demonstration of metallic edge states. Such
heterostructures offer an unique Dirac transport system that combines the 2D
Dirac states from graphene and 1D Dirac edge states from the topological
insulator, and it offers new ideas for innovative device designs
Symmetry and topology in antiferromagnetic spintronics
Antiferromagnetic spintronics focuses on investigating and using
antiferromagnets as active elements in spintronics structures. Last decade
advances in relativistic spintronics led to the discovery of the staggered,
current-induced field in antiferromagnets. The corresponding N\'{e}el
spin-orbit torque allowed for efficient electrical switching of
antiferromagnetic moments and, in combination with electrical readout, for the
demonstration of experimental antiferromagnetic memory devices. In parallel,
the anomalous Hall effect was predicted and subsequently observed in
antiferromagnets. A new field of spintronics based on antiferromagnets has
emerged. We will focus here on the introduction into the most significant
discoveries which shaped the field together with a more recent spin-off
focusing on combining antiferromagnetic spintronics with topological effects,
such as antiferromagnetic topological semimetals and insulators, and the
interplay of antiferromagnetism, topology, and superconductivity in
heterostructures.Comment: Book chapte
Experimental signatures of the mixed axial-gravitational anomaly in the Weyl semimetal NbP
Weyl semimetals are materials where electrons behave effectively as a kind of
massless relativistic particles known asWeyl fermions. These particles occur in
two flavours, or chiralities, and are subject to quantum anomalies, the
breaking of a conservation law by quantum fluctuations. For instance, the
number of Weyl fermions of each chirality is not independently conserved in
parallel electric and magnetic field, a phenomenon known as the chiral anomaly.
In addition, an underlying curved spacetime provides a distinct contribution to
a chiral imbalance, an effect known as the mixed axial-gravitational anomaly,
which remains experimentally elusive. However, the presence of a mixed
gauge-gravitational anomaly has recently been tied to thermoelectrical
transport in a magnetic field, even in flat spacetime, opening the door to
experimentally probe such type of anomalies in Weyl semimetals. Using a
temperature gradient, we experimentally observe a positive longitudinal
magnetothermoelectric conductance (PMTC) in the Weyl semimetal NbP for
collinear temperature gradients and magnetic fields (DT || B) that vanishes in
the ultra quantum limit. This observation is consistent with the presence of a
mixed axial-gravitational anomaly. Our work provides clear experimental
evidence for the existence of a mixed axial-gravitational anomaly of Weyl
fermions, an outstanding theoretical concept that has so far eluded
experimental detection
The Complete Genome Sequence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, the Bacterium Associated with Potato Zebra Chip Disease
Zebra Chip (ZC) is an emerging plant disease that causes aboveground decline of
potato shoots and generally results in unusable tubers. This disease has led to
multi-million dollar losses for growers in the central and western United States
over the past decade and impacts the livelihood of potato farmers in Mexico and
New Zealand. ZC is associated with ‘Candidatus
Liberibacter solanacearum’, a fastidious alpha-proteobacterium that is
transmitted by a phloem-feeding psyllid vector, Bactericera
cockerelli Sulc. Research on this disease has been hampered by a
lack of robust culture methods and paucity of genome sequence information for
‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. Here we present the
sequence of the 1.26 Mbp metagenome of ‘Ca. L.
solanacearum’, based on DNA isolated from potato psyllids. The coding
inventory of the ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ genome was
analyzed and compared to related Rhizobiaceae to better
understand ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ physiology and
identify potential targets to develop improved treatment strategies. This
analysis revealed a number of unique transporters and pathways, all potentially
contributing to ZC pathogenesis. Some of these factors may have been acquired
through horizontal gene transfer. Taxonomically, ‘Ca. L.
solanacearum’ is related to ‘Ca. L.
asiaticus’, a suspected causative agent of citrus huanglongbing, yet many
genome rearrangements and several gene gains/losses are evident when comparing
these two Liberibacter. species. Relative to ‘Ca. L.
asiaticus’, ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ probably
has reduced capacity for nucleic acid modification, increased amino acid and
vitamin biosynthesis functionalities, and gained a high-affinity iron transport
system characteristic of several pathogenic microbes
Competing itinerant and local spin interactions in kagome metal FeGe
Abstract The combination of a geometrically frustrated lattice, and similar energy scales between degrees of freedom endows two-dimensional Kagome metals with a rich array of quantum phases and renders them ideal for studying strong electron correlations and band topology. The Kagome metal, FeGe is a noted example of this, exhibiting A-type collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) order at T N ≈ 400 K, then establishes a charge density wave (CDW) phase coupled with AFM ordered moment below T CDW ≈ 110 K, and finally forms a c-axis double cone AFM structure around T Canting ≈ 60 K. Here we use neutron scattering to demonstrate the presence of gapless incommensurate spin excitations associated with the double cone AFM structure of FeGe at temperatures well above T Canting and T CDW that merge into gapped commensurate spin waves from the A-type AFM order. Commensurate spin waves follow the Bose factor and fit the Heisenberg Hamiltonian, while the incommensurate spin excitations, emerging below T N where AFM order is commensurate, start to deviate from the Bose factor around T CDW, and peaks at T Canting. This is consistent with a critical scattering of a second order magnetic phase transition with decreasing temperature. By comparing these results with density functional theory calculations, we conclude that the incommensurate magnetic structure arises from the nested Fermi surfaces of itinerant electrons and the formation of a spin density wave order