Nonlinear current response and electric quantum oscillations in the Dirac semimetal Cd3As2

Cui，Hao Nan1,2,3; Wu，Ze Nan2,3; Wang，Jian Kun2,3; Zhu，Guang Yu2,3; Yang，Jia Jie2,3; Zheng，Wen Zhuang1; Liao，Zhi Min1; Wang，Shuo2,3,4; Lin，Ben Chuan2,3,4; Yu，Dapeng2,3,4

2023-08-01

10.1088/1674-1056/acd9c5

Chinese Physics B   Impact Factor & Quartile

1674-1056

2058-3834

Chiral anomaly is a distinct quantum anomaly associated with chiral fermions in Dirac or Weyl semimetals. The use of negative magnetoresistance (negative MR) as a signature for this anomaly remains contentious, as trivial mechanisms such as current jetting and weak localization can also induce negative MR. In this study, we report a novel nonlinear behavior of the chiral anomaly in the longitudinal direction, which we observed by applying parallel current and magnetic field to the Dirac semimetal CdAs. This nonlinear characteristic peaks at an intermediate magnetic field of approximately 5 T, displaying a resistance-increasing property concomitant with strengthening of the current source. Through angle-dependence experiments, we were able to rule out trivial factors, such as thermal effects, geometric artifacts, and anisotropy. Furthermore, additional electric quantum oscillations were observed when the direct current (DC) was applied as high as 300 μA. Such an unusual phenomenon is ascribed to the formation of quantized levels due to Bloch oscillation in the high DC regime, suggesting that an oscillatory density distribution may arise as the electric field increases. The non-Ohmic electric quantum oscillations open a new avenue for exploring chiral anomaly and other nontrivial topological properties, which is also one of the salient features of nonequilibrium steady states in condensed matter physics.

chiral anomaly electric quantum oscillations nonlinear response topological semimetals

SCI

English

Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China["12074162","12004158","91964201"] ; National Key Research and Development Program of China["2022YFA1403700","2020YFA0309300"] ; Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province[2018B030327001] ; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory[2019B121203002] ; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2022B1515130005]

Physics

Physics, Multidisciplinary

WOS:001043099500001

IOP Publishing Ltd

2-s2.0-85168480000

Scopus

1.State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics,School of Physics,Peking University,Beijing,100871,China
2.Shenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.International Quantum Academy,Shenzhen,518048,China
4.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Cui，Hao Nan,Wu，Ze Nan,Wang，Jian Kun,et al. Nonlinear current response and electric quantum oscillations in the Dirac semimetal Cd3As2[J]. Chinese Physics B,2023,32(8).

Cui，Hao Nan.,Wu，Ze Nan.,Wang，Jian Kun.,Zhu，Guang Yu.,Yang，Jia Jie.,...&Yu，Dapeng.(2023).Nonlinear current response and electric quantum oscillations in the Dirac semimetal Cd3As2.Chinese Physics B,32(8).

Cui，Hao Nan,et al."Nonlinear current response and electric quantum oscillations in the Dirac semimetal Cd3As2".Chinese Physics B 32.8(2023).