arXiv · 2209.02504
Polarization jumps by breaking symmetries of two-dimensional Weyl semimetals
Abstract
The electric polarization as a bulk quantity is described by the modern theory of polarization in insulating systems and cannot be defined in conducting systems. Upon a gradual change of a parameter in the system, the polarization always varies smoothly as long as the gap remains open. In this paper, we focus on the two-dimensional Weyl semimetal, which hosts Weyl nodes protected by symmetries, and study the behavior of the polarization when a symmetry-breaking term $M$ is introduced and a gap opens. We show that there can be a jump between $M\to0^+$ and $M\to0^-$ limits. We find that the jump is universally described by the ``Weyl dipole" representing how the Weyl nodes with monopole charges are displaced in the reciprocal space. Our result is applicable to general two-dimensional Weyl semimetals.
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Hiroki Yoshida, Tiantian Zhang, Shuichi Murakami. 2022-09-06. Polarization jumps by breaking symmetries of two-dimensional Weyl semimetals. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.107.035122
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