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On Anderson Localization and Chiral Anomaly in Disordered Time-Reversal Invariant Weyl Semimetals: Nonperturbative
1Laboratoire de Physique Théorique-IRSAMC, CNRS and Université de Toulouse, UPS, F-31062, Toulouse, France. imam.makhfudz@ens-lyon.fr.
Scientific Reports
|May 2, 2018
Summary
Disorder in Weyl semimetals can cause Anderson localization, but Berry phase effects create destructive interference, resisting this localization. This finding is crucial for understanding topological materials and their transport properties.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Weyl semimetals are 3D electronic systems with unique properties due to linear energy dispersion and Berry charge.
- A key question is the robustness of these properties against disorder and the potential for Anderson localization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of topological excitations and Berry phase on disordered time-reversal invariant 3D Weyl semimetals.
- To determine the conditions under which Anderson localization occurs and how it affects Weyl semimetal properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nonlinear sigma model to describe diffusons after disorder averaging.
- Analyzed nonperturbative topological (vortex loop) excitations and Berry phase effects.
Main Results:
- Chiral symmetry is restored at short length scales, and Anderson localization occurs at strong disorder, leading to the disappearance of chirality.
- A Berry phase-induced mechanism involving destructive interference between vortex loops and scattering paths impedes Anderson localization.
Conclusions:
- The Berry phase plays a critical role in resisting Anderson localization in disordered Weyl semimetals.
- The theory is applicable to candidate Weyl materials and consistent with experimental observations of absent chiral anomaly.
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