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Title: Uncovering electron-phonon scattering and phonon dynamics in type-I Weyl semimetals

Journal Article · · Physical Review B

Studies of topological semimetals have revealed spectacular transport phenomena spanning extreme magnetoresistance effects and ultrahigh mobilities. As phonon dynamics and electron-phonon scattering play a critical role in the electrical and thermal transport, in this work we pursue a fundamental understanding of these effects in type-I Weyl semimetals NbAs and TaAs. In the temperature-dependent Raman spectra of NbAs we reveal a previously unreported Fano line shape, a signature stemming from the electron-phonon interaction. Additionally, the temperature dependence of the A1 phonon linewidths in both NbAs and TaAs strongly deviate from the standard model of anharmonic decay. To capture the mechanisms responsible for the observed Fano asymmetry and the atypical phonon linewidth, we present first-principles calculations of the phonon self-energy correction due to the electron-phonon interaction. Through this study of the phonon dynamics and electron-phonon interaction in these Weyl semimetals, we consider specific microscopic pathways which could contribute to the nature of their macroscopic transport.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Photonics at Thermodynamic Limits (PTL); Krell Institute, Ames, IA (United States); Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0011978; AC02-05CH11231; FG02-97ER25308; SC0018675; SC0019140
OSTI ID:
1767740
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 100; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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