Novel Electromagnetic Responses in Topological Semimetals: Case Studies of Rare-Earth Monopnictides and RAlX Material Family

Thesis advisor: Fazel TaftiSince the idea of topology was realized in real materials, the hunt is on for new candidates of topological semimetals with novel electromagnetic responses. For example, topological states can be highly conductive due to a topological protection, which can be destroyed in a magnetic field and lead to an extremely high magnetoresistance. In Weyl semimetals, a transverse current that would usually require a magnetic field to emerge, can be generated by intrinsic Berry curvature without a magnetic field -- the celebrated anomalous Hall effect. In this dissertation, both phenomena mentioned above are studied in rare-earth monopnictides and RAlX material family (R=rare-earths, X=Ge/Si), respectively. The monopnictides are ideal for the study of extreme magnetoresistance because of their topological transitions and abundant magnetic phases. In LaAs, we untied the connection between topological states and the extreme magnetoresistance, the origin of which is clarified. In HoBi, we found an unusual onset of extreme magnetoresistance controlled by a magnetic phase dome. On the other hand, RAlX material family is a new class of Weyl semimetals breaking both inversion and time-reversal symmetries. In particular, in PrAlGeₓSi₁₋ₓ (x=0-1), we unveiled the first transition from intrinsic to extrinsic anomalous Hall effect in ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals, and the role of topology is discussed. In CeAlSi, we found that the Fermi level can be tuned as close as 1 meV away from the Weyl nodes; moreover, a novel anomalous Hall response appears only when the Fermi level is tuned to be near the Weyl nodes. Thus, we established a new transport response solely induced by Weyl nodes.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2021.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Physics