All-optical nonequilibrium pathway to stabilising magnetic Weyl semimetals in pyrochlore iridates

Gabriel E. Topp, Nicolas Tancogne-Dejean, Alexander F. Kemper, Angel Rubio and Michael A. Sentef ()
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Gabriel E. Topp: Center for Free Electron Laser Science
Nicolas Tancogne-Dejean: Center for Free Electron Laser Science
Alexander F. Kemper: North Carolina State University
Angel Rubio: Center for Free Electron Laser Science
Michael A. Sentef: Center for Free Electron Laser Science

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Nonequilibrium many-body dynamics is becoming a central topic in condensed matter physics. Floquet topological states were suggested to emerge in photodressed bands under periodic laser driving. Here we propose a viable nonequilibrium route without requiring coherent Floquet states to reach the elusive magnetic Weyl semimetallic phase in pyrochlore iridates by ultrafast modification of the effective electron-electron interaction with short laser pulses. Combining ab initio calculations for a time-dependent self-consistent light-reduced Hubbard U and nonequilibrium magnetism simulations for quantum quenches, we find dynamically modified magnetic order giving rise to transiently emerging Weyl cones that can be probed by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our work offers a unique and realistic pathway for nonequilibrium materials engineering beyond Floquet physics to create and sustain Weyl semimetals. This may lead to ultrafast, tens-of-femtoseconds switching protocols for light-engineered Berry curvature in combination with ultrafast magnetism.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06991-8

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