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Magnetic torque anomaly in the quantum limit of Weyl semimetals

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

Philip Moll
Andrew Potter
Nityan Nair
B. Ramshaw
K. Modic
Scott Riggs
Bin Zeng
Nirmal Ghimire
Eric Bauer
Robert Kealhofer
Filip Ronning
James Analytis

Abstract

Electrons in materials with linear dispersion behave as massless Weyl- or Dirac-quasiparticles, and continue to intrigue due to their close resemblance to elusive ultra-relativistic particles as well as their potential for future electronics. Yet the experimental signatures of Weyl-fermions are often subtle and indirect, in particular if they coexist with conventional, massive quasiparticles. Here we show a pronounced anomaly in the magnetic torque of the Weyl semimetal NbAs upon entering the quantum limit state in high magnetic fields. The torque changes sign in the quantum limit, signalling a reversal of the magnetic anisotropy that can be directly attributed to the topological nature of the Weyl electrons. Our results establish that anomalous quantum limit torque measurements provide a direct experimental method to identify and distinguish Weyl and Dirac systems.

Date Published

Journal

Nature Communications

Volume

7

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84984620300&doi=10.1038%2fncomms12492&partnerID=40&md5=c49e4b5b5dee638e3e3757bfa54c2ac9

DOI

10.1038/ncomms12492

Group (Lab)

Brad Ramshaw Group

Funding Source

1106400
1157490

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