Three-Dimensional Dirac Phonons with Inversion Symmetry

Z. J. Chen, R. Wang, B. W. Xia, B. B. Zheng, Y. J. Jin, Yu-Jun Zhao, and H. Xu
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 185301 – Published 5 May 2021
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Abstract

Dirac semimetals associated with bulk Dirac fermions are well known in topological electronic systems. In sharp contrast, three-dimensional (3D) Dirac phonons in crystalline solids are still unavailable. Here we perform symmetry arguments and first-principles calculations to systematically investigate 3D Dirac phonons in all space groups with inversion symmetry. The results show that there are two categories of 3D Dirac phonons depending on their protection mechanisms and positions in momentum space. The first category originates from the four-dimensional irreducible representations at the high symmetry points. The second category arises from the phonon branch inversion, and the symmetry guarantees Dirac points to be located along the high symmetry lines. Furthermore, we reveal that nonsymmorphic symmetries and the combination of inversion and time-reversal symmetries play essential roles in the emergence of 3D Dirac phonons. Our work not only offers a comprehensive understanding of 3D Dirac phonons but also provides significant guidance for exploring Dirac bosons in both phononic and photonic systems.

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  • Received 18 December 2019
  • Revised 23 May 2020
  • Accepted 5 April 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.185301

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Z. J. Chen1,2,3, R. Wang4, B. W. Xia2,3, B. B. Zheng2, Y. J. Jin2,3, Yu-Jun Zhao1,*, and H. Xu2,3,†

  • 1Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People’s Republic of China
  • 2Department of Physics and Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
  • 3Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Computational Science and Material Design, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
  • 4Institute for Structure and Function and Department of Physics and Center for Quantum Materials and Devices, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People’s Republic of China

  • *zhaoyj@scut.edu.cn
  • xuh@sustech.edu.cn

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Issue

Vol. 126, Iss. 18 — 7 May 2021

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