Theory of transport in Weyl semimetal

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13498
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Condensed matter physics I
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Yukio 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (40212039)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 昌利 京都大学, 基礎物理学研究所, 教授 (30313117) ; 田口 勝久 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 研究員 (90725194)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ワイル半金属 / トポロジカル絶縁体 / アクシオン / スピン軌道相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is known that so called Weyl semimetal and Dirac semimetal are realized near the quantum critical point between conventional insulator and topological insulator. In these systems, novel quantum phenomena emerges due to the spin-momentum locking. In this research, we have studied several quantum phenomena in Weyl semimetal and relevant systems where spin-momentum locking is strong. For example, we have predicted (1)Photovoltaic chiral magnetic effect in Weyl semimetals, (2) Electromagnetic effects induced by time-dependent axion field (3)Spin and charge transport induced by a twisted light beam on the surface of a topological insulator. As regards (1), we have theoretically predicted current generation in Weyl semimetals when circularly polarized light is applied. The electric field of the light can drive a huge amount of effective magnetic field.

Free Research Field

凝縮系物理学理論