Cited by 55Topological Materials and PhenomenaLaser-Matter Interactions and Applications2D Materials and Applications

Ultrafast investigation and control of Dirac and Weyl semimetals

Weber, Chris P.·2021·Journal of Applied Physics

Abstract

Ultrafast experiments using sub-picosecond pulses of light are poised to play an important role in the study and use of topological materials and, particularly, of the three-dimensional Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Many of these materials’ characteristic properties—their linear band dispersion, Berry curvature, near-vanishing density of states at the Fermi energy, and sensitivity to crystalline and time-reversal symmetries—are closely related to their sub- and few-picosecond response to light. Ultrafast measurements offer the opportunity to explore excitonic instabilities and transient photocurrents, the latter depending on the Berry curvature and possibly quantized by fundamental constants. Optical pulses may, through Floquet effects, controllably and reversibly move, split, merge, or gap the materials’ Dirac and Weyl nodes; coherent phonons launched by an ultrafast pulse offer alternate mechanisms for similar control of the nodal structure. This Perspective will briefly summarize the state of research on the ultrafast properties of Dirac and Weyl semimetals, emphasizing important open questions. It will describe the challenges confronting each of these experimental opportunities and suggest what research is needed for ultrafast pulses to achieve their potential of controlling and illuminating the physics of Dirac and Weyl semimetals.

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Crossref · 10.1063/5.0035878

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Authors
Weber, C. P.
Affiliations
Santa Clara University (US)
Corresponding author
Weber, Chris P.
Venue
Journal of Applied Physics
Published
2021-02-17
Volume
129
Issue
7
ISSN
  • 0021-8979 (ISSN-L)
  • 1089-7550
OpenAlex
W3132670342
Cited by
55
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
FWCI
5.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Physics (publishedVersion)
  • Scholar Commons (Santa Clara University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (DMR-1904726)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Topological Materials and Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › 2D Materials and Applications
Keywords
Dirac semimetal, Weyl semimetals, ultrafast dynamics, Berry curvature, photocurrent, excitonic instability, Floquet engineering, coherent phonons, topological materials, time-reversal symmetry

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