Helical Spin Order from Topological Dirac and Weyl Semimetals

Phys Rev Lett. 2015 Aug 14;115(7):076802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.076802. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Abstract

We study dynamical mass generation and the resultant helical spin orders in topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, including the edge states of quantum spin Hall insulators, the surface states of weak topological insulators, and the bulk materials of Weyl semimetals. In particular, the helical spin textures of Weyl semimetals manifest the spin-momentum locking of Weyl fermions in a visible manner. The spin-wave fluctuations of the helical order carry electric charge density; therefore, the spin textures can be electrically controlled in a simple and predictable manner.