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Thermal chiral anomaly in the magnetic-field-induced ideal Weyl phase of Bi1-xSbx
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Thermal chiral anomaly in the magnetic-field-induced ideal Weyl phase of Bi1-xSbx

Dung Vu, Wenjuan Zhang, Cuneyt Sahin, Michael E. Flatte, Nandini Trivedi and Joseph P. Heremans
Nature materials, Vol.20(11), pp.1525-1531
11/01/2021
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-00983-8
PMID: 34099904
url
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1906.02248View
Open Access

Abstract

The chiral anomaly is the predicted breakdown of chiral symmetry in a Weyl semimetal with monopoles of opposite chirality when an electric field is applied parallel to a magnetic field. It occurs because of charge pumping between monopoles of opposite chirality. Experimental observation of this fundamental effect is plagued by concerns about the current pathways. Here we demonstrate the thermal chiral anomaly, energy pumping between monopoles, in topological insulator bismuth-antimony alloys driven into an ideal Weyl semimetal state by a Zeeman field, with the chemical potential pinned at the Weyl points and in the absence of any trivial Fermi surface pockets. The experimental signature is a large enhancement of the thermal conductivity in an applied magnetic field parallel to the thermal gradient. This work demonstrates both pumping of energy and charge between the two Weyl points of opposite chirality and that they are related by the Wiedemann-Franz law. A thermal signature of the chiral anomaly is reported in an ideal Weyl semimetal.
 Chemistry Chemistry, Physical Materials Science Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Physical Sciences Physics Physics, Applied Physics, Condensed Matter Science & Technology Technology

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