Tunable interface states between Floquet-Weyl semimetals

TL;DR

This paper explores how circularly polarized light can induce and control interface states in nodal line semimetals, revealing tunable energy structures and topologically non-trivial pseudo-spin patterns.

Contribution

It demonstrates the generation of tunable Floquet-Weyl semimetal interface states and their topological properties using a minimal model with polarized light and magnetic doping.

Findings

Tunable modifications of energy structure via polarized light.

Possible generation of van Hove singularities.

Switchable topologically non-trivial vortex-like pseudo-spin patterns.

Abstract

Weyl semimetals and nodal line semimetals are characterized by linear electronic bands touching at zero-dimensional points and one-dimensional lines, respectively. Recently, it has been predicted that nodal line semimetals can be driven into tunable Floquet-Weyl semimetals by circularly polarized light. Here, we study the occurrence of interface states between two regions of a nodal line semimetal shined by two beams of light with opposite circular polarizations. Within a minimal model, we find remarkable modifications of the energy structure by tuning the polarized light, such as the possible generation of van Hove singularities. Moreover, by adding a $\delta$-doping of magnetic impurities along the interfacial plane, we show the occurrence of a switchable and topologically non-trivial, vortex-like pseudo-spin pattern of the interface states.