Coexistence of Topological Nontrivial And Spin-gapless Semiconducting Behavior in MnPO4:
A Composite Quantum Compound

  • Event Date: 2021-07-29
  • Computational quantum materials
  • Speaker: Dr. Chia-Hsiu Hsu  /  Host: Prof. Tay-Rong Chang
    Place: Online Seminar

Title: 
Coexistence of Topological Nontrivial And Spin-gapless Semiconducting Behavior in MnPO4:
A Composite Quantum Compound


Time: 14:00-15:00, Thursday, 2021/07/29

The link for the online seminar : 

meet.google.com/riv-fimq-gwf

Abstract:
Composite quantum compounds (CQC) are a classic example of quantum materials, which host more than one apparently distinct quantum phenomenon in physics. Magnetism, topological superconductivity, Rashba physics, etc. are a few such quantum phenomenon, which are ubiquitously observed in several functional materials and can coexist in CQCs. In this paper, we use ab initio calculations to predict the coexistence of two incompatible phenomena, namely topologically nontrivial Weyl semimetal and spin-gapless semiconducting (SGS) behavior, in a single crystalline system.

SGS belongs to a special class of spintronics material, which exhibits a unique band structure involving a semiconducting state for one spin channel and a gapless state for the other. 
We report such a SGS behavior in conjunction with the topologically nontrivial multi-Weyl fermions in MnPO4. Interestingly, these Weyl nodes are located very close to the Fermi level with the minimal trivial band density.

A drumhead-like surface state originating from a nodal loop around Y point in the Brillouin zone is observed. A large value of the simulated anomalous Hall conductivity (1265 (Omega*cm)−1) indirectly reflects the topological nontrivial behavior of this compound. Such co-existent quantum phenomena are not common in condensed matter systems and hence it opens up a fertile ground to explore and achieve newer functional materials.