Weyl Nodal-Ring Semimetallic Behavior and Topological Superconductivity in Crystalline Forms of Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Chains

TL;DR

This paper models a 3D coupled SSH chain system that can exhibit Weyl nodal rings and topological superconductivity, providing insights into novel topological phases and potential real material realizations.

Contribution

It introduces a 3D coupled SSH chain model that demonstrates Weyl nodal rings and topological superconductivity, extending the SSH model's applicability.

Findings

Development of a model with Weyl nodal rings under increased inter-chain coupling

Prediction of topological superconductivity with surface Majorana states

Potential experimental realization through pressure or intercalation

Abstract

We consider a three-dimensional model of coupled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chains. The analytically soluble model discussed here reliably reproduces the features of the band structure of crystalline polyacetylene as obtained from density-functional theory. We show that when a certain inter-chain coupling is sufficiently increased, the system develops a ring of Weyl nodes. We argue that such an increase could be achieved experimentally by intercalation or extreme pressure. With the addition of a simple intra-orbital pairing term we find that the system supports an exotic superconducting state with drumhead surface states and annular Majorana states localized on the surface. In addition to suggesting a novel real material realization of a nodal ring semimetal and possibly topological superconductivity, our results provide a new perspective on the SSH model, demonstrating that a simple extension of this broadly-impacting model can once again provide fundamental insights on the topological behavior of condensed matter systems.