Nonsymmorphic symmetry-required band crossings in topological semimetals

We show that for two-band systems nonsymmorphic symmetries may enforce the existence of band crossings in the bulk, which realize Fermi surfaces of reduced dimensionality. We find that these unavoidable crossings originate from the momentum dependence of the nonsymmorphic symmetry, which puts strong restrictions on the global structure of the band configurations. Three different types of nonsymmorphic symmetries are considered: (i) a unitary nonsymmorphic symmetry, (ii) a nonsymmorphic magnetic symmetry, and (iii) a nonsymmorphic symmetry combined with inversion. For nonsymmorphic symmetries of the latter two types, the band crossings are located at high-symmetry points of the Brillouin zone, with their exact positions being determined by the algebra of the symmetry operators. To characterize these band degeneracies we introduce a \emph{global} topological charge and show that it is of $\mathbb{Z}_2$ type, which is in contrast to the \emph{local} topological charge of Fermi points in, say, Weyl semimetals. To illustrate these concepts, we discuss the $\pi$-flux state as well as the SSH model at its critical point and show that these two models fit nicely into our general framework of nonsymmorphic two-band systems.Comment: 6.5 pages, 4 figure

Breakdown of QCD Factorization for P-Wave Quarkonium Production at Low Transverse Momentum

Quarkonium production at low transverse momentum in hadron collisions can be used to extract Transverse-Momentum-Dependent(TMD) gluon distribution functions, if TMD factorization holds there. We show that TMD factorization for the case of P-wave quarkonium with $J^{PC}=0^{++}, 2^{++}$ holds at one-loop level, but is violated beyond one-loop level. TMD factorization for other P-wave quarkonium is also violated already at one-loop.Comment: Published version in Physics Letters B (2014), pp. 103-10

Transverse Momentum Dependent Factorization for Quarkonium Production at Low Transverse Momentum

Quarkonium production in hadron collisions at low transverse momentum $q_\perp \ll M$ with $M$ as the quarkonium mass can be used for probing transverse momentum dependent (TMD) gluon distributions. For this purpose, one needs to establish the TMD factorization for the process. We examine the factorization at the one-loop level for the production of $\eta_c$ or $\eta_b$. The perturbative coefficient in the factorization is determined at one-loop accuracy. Comparing the factorization derived at tree level and that beyond the tree level, a soft factor is, in general, needed to completely cancel soft divergences. We have also discussed possible complications of TMD factorization of p-wave quarkonium production.Comment: Title changed in the journal, published versio

Large magnetothermal conductivity of HoMnO_3 single crystals and its relation to the magnetic-field induced transitions of magnetic structure

We study the low-temperature heat transport of HoMnO_3 single crystals to probe the magnetic structures and their transitions induced by magnetic field. It is found that the low-T thermal conductivity (\kappa) shows very strong magnetic-field dependence, with the strongest suppression of nearly 90% and the biggest increase of 20 times of \kappa compared to its zero-field value. In particular, some ``dip"-like features show up in \kappa(H) isotherms for field along both the ab plane and the c axis. These behaviors are found to shed new light on the complex H-T phase diagram and the field-induced re-orientations of Mn^{3+} and Ho^{3+} spin structures. The results also demonstrate a significant spin-phonon coupling in this multiferroic compound.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Enhanced spin-orbit torques in MnAl/Ta films with improving chemical ordering

We report the enhancement of spin-orbit torques in MnAl/Ta films with improving chemical ordering through annealing. The switching current density is increased due to enhanced saturation magnetization MS and effective anisotropy field HK after annealing. Both damplinglike effective field HD and fieldlike effective field HF have been increased in the temperature range of 50 to 300 K. HD varies inversely with MS in both of the films, while the HF becomes liner dependent on 1/MS in the annealed film. We infer that the improved chemical ordering has enhanced the interfacial spin transparency and the transmitting of the spin current in MnAl layer

Unified theory of PT and CP invariant topological metals and nodal superconductors

As PT and CP symmetries are fundamental in physics, we establish a unified topological theory of PT and CP invariant metals and nodal superconductors, based on the mathematically rigorous $KO$ theory. Representative models are constructed for all nontrivial topological cases in dimensions $d=1,2$, and $3$, with their exotic physical meanings being elucidated in detail. Intriguingly, it is found that the topological charges of Fermi surfaces in the bulk determine an exotic direction-dependent distribution of topological subgap modes on the boundaries. Furthermore, by constructing an exact bulk-boundary correspondence, we show that the topological Fermi points of the PT and CP invariant classes can appear as gapless modes on the boundary of topological insulators with a certain type of anisotropic crystalline symmetry.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure and supplemental material, to be published in PR