Interacting line-node semimetal: Proximity effect and spontaneous symmetry breaking

TL;DR

This paper investigates how short-range interactions in a three-dimensional line-node semimetal lead to various bulk and surface orderings, including symmetry breaking and potential superconductivity, driven by surface states and weak Coulomb interactions.

Contribution

It reveals the role of surface states and weak interactions in inducing bulk symmetry breaking and explores possible superconducting phases in line-node semimetals.

Findings

Bulk antiferromagnetism and charge-density-wave emerge at strong interactions.

Surface states can order even at weak interactions, influencing bulk properties.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking can be driven by surface effects and weak Coulomb interactions.

Abstract

Effects of short-range electronic interactions in a three-dimensional line-node semimetal that supports linearly dispersing quasiparticles around an isolated loop in the Brillouin zone are discussed. Due to vanishing density of states ($\varrho(E) \sim |E|$) various orderings in the bulk of the system, such as the antiferromagnet and charge-density-wave, set in for sufficiently strong onsite ($U$) and nearest-neighbor ($V$) repulsions, respectively. While onset of these two orderings from the semimetallic phase takes place through continuous quantum phase transitions, a first-order transition separates two ordered phases. By contrast, topologically protected drumhead shaped surface states can undergo charge or spin orderings, depending on relative strength of $U$ and $V$, even when they are sufficiently weak. Such surface orderings as well as weak long-range Coulomb interaction can be conducive to spontaneous symmetry breaking in the bulk for weaker interactions. We numerically establish such proximity effect driven spontaneous symmetry breaking in the bulk for subcritical strength of interactions due to flat surface band and also discuss possible superconducting orders in this system.