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Correlation effects and quantum oscillations in topological nodal-loop semimetals

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We study the unique physical properties of topological nodal-loop semimetals protected by the coexistence of time-reversal and inversion symmetries with negligible spin-orbit coupling. We argue that strong correlation effects occur… Click to show full abstract

We study the unique physical properties of topological nodal-loop semimetals protected by the coexistence of time-reversal and inversion symmetries with negligible spin-orbit coupling. We argue that strong correlation effects occur at the surface of such systems for relatively small Hubbard interaction $U$, due to the narrow bandwidth of the ``drumhead'' surface states. In the Hartree-Fock approximation, at small $U$ we obtain a surface ferromagnetic phase through a continuous quantum phase transition characterized by the surface-mode divergence of the spin susceptibility, while the bulk states remain very robust against local interactions and remain nonordered. At slightly increased interaction strength, the system quickly changes from a surface ferromagnetic phase to a surface charge-ordered phase through a first-order transition. When Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling is applied to the surface states, a canted ferromagnetic phase occurs at the surface for intermediate values of $U$. The quantum critical behavior of the surface ferromagnetic transition is nontrivial in the sense that the surface spin order parameter couples to Fermi-surface excitations from both surface and bulk states. This leads to unconventional Landau damping and consequently a na\"{\i}ve dynamical critical exponent $z\ensuremath{\approx}1$ when the Fermi level is close to the bulk nodal energy. We also show that, already without interactions, quantum oscillations arise due to bulk states, despite the absence of a Fermi surface when the chemical potential is tuned to the energy of the nodal loop. The bulk magnetic susceptibility diverges logarithmically whenever the nodal loop exactly overlaps with a quantized magnetic orbit in the bulk Brillouin zone. These correlation and transport phenomena are unique signatures of nodal-loop states.

Keywords: phase; surface; topological nodal; correlation; nodal loop

Journal Title: Physical Review B
Year Published: 2017

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