Spinless topological chirality from Umklapp scattering in twisted 3D structures

Spinless systems exhibit unique topological characteristics compared to spinful ones, stemming from their distinct algebra. Without chiral interactions typically linked to spin, an intriguing yet unexplored interplay between topological and structural chirality may be anticipated. Here we discover spinless topological chiralities solely from structural chiralities that lie in the 3D spatial patterning of structureless units, exemplified using two types of twisted graphite systems. In a 3D screw twisted structure without periodicity in all directions, we find a chiral Weyl semimetal phase where bulk topology and chiral surface states are both determined by the screw direction. And in a 3D periodic structure formed with layer-alternating twist angle signs, a higher-order Dirac semimetal with chiral hinge states is discovered. Underlying these novel topological states is the intervalley Umklapp scattering that captures the chirality of the twisted interfaces, leading effectively to a sign-flipped chiral interlayer hopping, thereby introducing $\pi$-flux $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge field that alters the symmetry algebra. Our findings point to a new pathway for engineering topological chirality through patterning twisted arrays of featureless units, which can expand the design principles for topological photonics and acoustics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Reports on Progress in Physics
Published
2024-12-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6633/ad9ed8
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Topological Materials and Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.68

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article

Spinless topological chirality from Umklapp scattering in twisted 3D structures

Cong Chen, Xu-Tao Zeng, Wang Yao
2 citations
Reports on Progress in Physics
Topological Materials and Phenomena
0.68
article

Spinless topological chirality from Umklapp scattering in twisted 3D structures

Cong Chen, Xu-Tao Zeng, Wang Yao
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Spinless systems exhibit unique topological characteristics compared to spinful ones, stemming from their distinct algebra. Without chiral interactions typically linked to spin, an intriguing yet unexplored interplay between topological and structural chirality may be anticipated. Here we discover spinless topological chiralities solely from structural chiralities that lie in the 3D spatial patterning of structureless units, exemplified using two types of twisted graphite systems. In a 3D screw twisted structure without periodicity in all directions, we find a chiral Weyl semimetal phase where bulk topology and chiral surface states are both determined by the screw direction. And in a 3D periodic structure formed with layer-alternating twist angle signs, a higher-order Dirac semimetal with chiral hinge states is discovered. Underlying these novel topological states is the intervalley Umklapp scattering that captures the chirality of the twisted interfaces, leading effectively to a sign-flipped chiral interlayer hopping, thereby introducing $\pi$-flux $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge field that alters the symmetry algebra. Our findings point to a new pathway for engineering topological chirality through patterning twisted arrays of featureless units, which can expand the design principles for topological photonics and acoustics.

Reports on Progress in PhysicsVol. 88(1)
Beihang University (CN), University of Hong Kong (HK)
National Key Research and Development Program of China
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 29%
Topological Materials and Phenomena
0.68
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