Helical Spin Order from Topological Dirac and Weyl Semimetals

TL;DR

This paper investigates how topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals exhibit helical spin orders due to dynamical mass generation, highlighting their spin-momentum locking and electrical controllability of spin textures.

Contribution

It reveals the emergence of helical spin textures in topological semimetals and their electrical control, connecting spin order with topological surface and edge states.

Findings

Helical spin textures manifest in Weyl semimetals.

Spin-wave fluctuations carry electric charge density.

Spin textures can be electrically controlled.

Abstract

We study dynamical mass generation and the resultant helical spin orders in topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, including the edge states of quantum spin Hall insulators, the surface states of weak topological insulators, and the bulk materials of Weyl semimetals. In particular, the helical spin textures of Weyl semimetals manifest the spin-momentum locking of Weyl fermions in a visible manner. The spin-wave fluctuations of the helical order carry electric charge density; therefore, the spin textures can be electrically controlled in a simple and predictable manner.