Anomalous transport properties of Dirac and Weyl semimetals

TL;DR

This review explores the topological properties of Dirac and Weyl semimetals, focusing on their unique transport phenomena, the role of Berry curvature, and the development of chiral kinetic theory.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the topological features, electromagnetic interactions, and transport properties of Dirac and Weyl semimetals, including the generation of chiral shift in magnetic fields.

Findings

Chiral shift can be dynamically generated in Dirac materials under magnetic fields.

Distinct signatures in electric, chiral, and heat transport are identified.

A consistent chiral kinetic theory for Weyl semimetals is reviewed.

Abstract

In this review we discuss a wide range of topological properties of electron quasiparticles in Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Their nontrivial topology is quantified by a monopole-like Berry curvature in the vicinity of Weyl nodes, as well as by the energy and momentum space separations between the nodes. The momentum separation, which is also known as the chiral shift, is one of the key elements of this review. We show that it can be dynamically generated in Dirac materials in a background magnetic field. We also pay a special attention to various forms of interplay between the background electromagnetic fields and the topological characteristics of Dirac and Weyl semimetals. In particular, we discuss their signature features in the transport of the electric and chiral charges, heat, as well as the quantum oscillations associated with the Fermi arc states. The origin of the dissipative transport of the Fermi arc states is critically examined. Finally, a consistent chiral kinetic theory for the description of Weyl semimetals is reviewed and its applications are demonstrated.