Tunable topological semi-metallic phases in Kondo lattice systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Anderson lattice models with spin-orbit interactions can host all known topological semi-metallic phases, tunable via temperature, spin-orbit strength, and symmetry-breaking fields.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive framework showing how various topological semi-metallic phases emerge in Anderson lattices with spin-orbit coupling, expanding the understanding of topological phases in correlated systems.

Findings

Weyl, Dirac, and nodal-ring semi-metallic phases can be realized in Anderson models.

Topological phases are tunable by temperature, spin-orbit interaction, and symmetry breaking.

Weyl phases with charges of ±1 and ±2 are demonstrated and controllable.

Abstract

We exploit topological semi-metallic phases resulting from the Kondo screening in Anderson lattice models. It is shown that by including spin-orbit interactions both in the bulk electrons and in the hybridization between the conduction electrons and electrons in $f$ orbit, all types of topological semi-metallic phases can be realized in Anderson lattice models. Specifically, upon either time-reversal symmetry broken or inversion symmetry broken, we find that either Weyl semi-metallic phase, Dirac semi-metallic phase or nodal-ring semi-metallic phases always emerge between insulating phases and can be accessed by tuning either temperature or spin-orbit interaction. For Anderson lattice models with general 3D spin-orbit hybridization between the conduction electrons and electrons in $f$ orbit, we find that Weyl nodal-ring semi-metallic phases emerges between strong and weak topological insulating phases. Furthermore, in the presence of an exchange field, Weyl semi-metallic phases forms after two Weyl points of charge $\pm1$ split off from a Dirac point at time-reversal momenta. On the other hand, when the spin-orbit interaction is included in the conduction electron, we find that upon the rotation symmetry being broken with anisotropic hopping amplitudes, Weyl semi-metallic phase emerges with double Weyl node of charges of $\pm2$. Furthermore, the Weyl semi-metallic phases with charges of $\pm2$ can be tuned into Weyl semi-metallic phases with charges of $\pm1$ through the inclusion of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction. Our analyses indicate that Anderson lattices with appropriate spin-orbit interactions provide a platform for realizing all types of topological semi-metallic phase