Stability of Weyl metals under imuurity scattering

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate the effects of bulk impurities on the electronic spectrum of Weyl semimetals, a recently identified class of Dirac-type materials. Using a $T$-matrix approach, we study resonant scattering due to a localized impurity in tight binding versions of the continuum models recently discussed by Burkov, Hook, and Balents, describing perturbed four-component Dirac fermions in the vicinity of a critical point. The impurity potential is described by a strength $g$ as well as a matrix structure $\Lambda$. Unlike the case in $d$-wave superconductors, where a zero energy resonance can always be induced by varying the impurity scalar and/or magnetic impurity strength, we find that for certain types of impurity ($\Lambda$), the Weyl node is protected, and that a scalar impurity will induce an intragap resonance over a wide range of scattering stength. A general framework is developed to address this question, as well as to determine the dependence of resonance energy on the impurity strength.

Authors

  • Zhoushen Huang

    Department of physics, University of California, San Diego

  • T. Das

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl. Lab.

  • Alexander Balatsky

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL and Nordita. Sweden, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL, NORDITA

  • Daniel P. Arovas

    University of California San Diego, Physics Department, UC San Diego, University of California at San Diego, Department of physics, University of California at San Diego