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Topological Semimetals from First Principles

Journal Article · · Annual Review of Materials Research
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. Shanghai Univ. (China); University of Pennsylvania
  2. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
  3. Sungkyunkwan Univ., Suwon (Korea)

We review recent theoretical progress in the understanding and prediction of novel topological semimetals. Topological semimetals define a class of gapless electronic phases exhibiting topologically stable crossings of energy bands. Different types of topological semimetals can be distinguished on the basis of the degeneracy of the band crossings, their codimension (e.g., point or line nodes), and the crystal space group symmetries on which the protection of stable band crossings relies. Furthermore, the dispersion near the band crossing is a further discriminating characteristic. These properties give rise to a wide range of distinct semimetal phases such as Dirac or Weyl semimetals, point or line node semimetals, and type I or type II semimetals. In this review we give a general description of various families of topological semimetals, with an emphasis on proposed material realizations from first-principles calculations. The conceptual framework for studying topological gapless electronic phases is reviewed, with a particular focus on the symmetry requirements of energy band crossings, and the relation between the different families of topological semimetals is elucidated. In addition to the paradigmatic Dirac and Weyl semimetals, we pay particular attention to more recent examples of topological semimetals, which include nodal line semimetals, multifold fermion semimetals, and triple-point semimetals. Less emphasis is placed on their surface state properties, their responses to external probes, and recent experimental developments.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation MRSEC Program; National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-07ER46431
OSTI ID:
1867036
Journal Information:
Annual Review of Materials Research, Journal Name: Annual Review of Materials Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 49; ISSN 1531-7331
Publisher:
Annual ReviewsCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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