Rotational strain in Weyl semimetals: A continuum approach

TL;DR

This paper explores how rotational strain affects Weyl semimetals, revealing new elastic gauge fields and electronic couplings that influence their physical properties.

Contribution

It introduces the analysis of rotational strain coupling in Weyl semimetals, highlighting novel effects absent in two-dimensional materials.

Findings

Rotational strain induces new elastic gauge fields.

It contributes to deformation potential and cone tilting.

Generates pseudo-Zeeman couplings affecting electronic behavior.

Abstract

The coupling of lattice deformations to the low energy electronic excitations of Dirac matter involve novel types of electron--phonon couplings as the celebrated elastic gauge fields first analyzed in graphene. In the continuum low energy approach, lattice deformations coupling to the electronic degrees of freedom are characterized by the (symmetric) strain tensor defined in elasticity theory. We review these couplings in Weyl semimetals and examine the coupling of electronic excitations to the antisymmetric part of the deformation gradient tensor associated to rotational strain. The new couplings, absent in the two dimensional materials, have important physical implications: they give rise to new elastic gauge fields, contribute to the deformation potential, tilt the cones and generate new pseudo--Zeeman couplings.