Four-dimensional semimetals with tensor monopoles: from surface states to topological responses

Abstract: Quantum anomalies offer a useful guide for the exploration of transport phenomena in topological semimetals. A prominent example is provided by the chiral magnetic effect in three-dimensional Weyl semimetals, which stems from the chiral anomaly. Here, we reveal a distinct quantum effect, coined "parity magnetic effect", which is induced by the parity anomaly in a four-dimensional topological semimetal. Upon preserving time-reversal symmetry, the spectrum of our model is doubly degenerate and the nodal (Dirac) points behave like Z2 monopoles. When time-reversal symmetry is broken, while preserving the sublattice (chiral) symmetry, our system supports spin- 3/2 quasiparticles and the corresponding Dirac-like cones host tensor monopoles characterized by a Z number, the Dixmier-Douady invariant. In both cases, the semimetal exhibits topologically protected Fermi arcs on its boundary. Besides its theoretical implications in both condensed matter and quantum field theory, the peculiar 4D magnetic effect revealed by our model could be measured by simulating higher-dimensional semimetals in synthetic matter.

condensed mattermathematical physics

Audience: researchers in the topic

( video )

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