Weyl semimetals in optical lattices: moving and merging of Weyl points, and hidden symmetry at Weyl points

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to realize and study Weyl semimetals in cubic optical lattices, revealing multiple phases, Weyl point dynamics, Fermi arc behavior, and a universal hidden symmetry at Weyl points.

Contribution

It introduces a scheme to realize Weyl semimetals in optical lattices, identifies multiple phases and Weyl point behaviors, and uncovers a universal hidden symmetry at Weyl points.

Findings

Three distinct Weyl semimetal phases identified.

Weyl points can move, merge, and annihilate in the Brillouin zone.

A hidden antiunitary symmetry exists at Weyl points.

Abstract

We propose to realize Weyl semimetals in a cubic optical lattice. We find that there exist three distinct Weyl semimetal phases in the cubic optical lattice for different parameter ranges. One of them has two pairs of Weyl points and the other two have one pair of Weyl points in the Brillouin zone. For a slab geometry with (010) surfaces, the Fermi arcs connecting the projections of Weyl points with opposite topological charges on the surface Brillouin zone is presented. By adjusting the parameters, the Weyl points can move in the Brillouin zone. Interestingly, for two pairs of Weyl points, as one pair of them meet and annihilate, the originial two Fermi arcs coneect into one. As the remaining Weyl points annihilate further, the Fermi arc vanishes and a gap is opened. Furthermore, we find that there always exists a hidden symmetry at Weyl points, regardless of anywhere they located in the Brillouin zone. The hidden symmetry has an antiunitary operator with its square being $-1$.