Understanding the three-dimensional quantum Hall effect in generic multi-Weyl semimetals

Feng Xiong, Carsten Honerkamp, Dante M. Kennes, Tanay Nag

Published 2022-02-17Version 1

The quantum Hall effect in three-dimensional Weyl semimetal (WSM) receives significant attention for the emergence of the Fermi loop where the underlying two-dimensional Hall conductivity, namely, sheet Hall conductivity, shows quantized plateaus. Considering the tilted lattice models for multi Weyl semimetals (mWSMs), we systematically study the Landau levels (LLs) and magneto-Hall conductivity in the presence of parallel and perpendicular (with respect to the Weyl node's separation) magnetic field, i.e., $\mathbf{ B}\parallel z$ and $\mathbf{B}\parallel x$, to explore the impact of tilting and non-linearity in the dispersion. We make use of two (single) node low-energy models to qualitatively explain the emergence of mid-gap chiral (linear crossing of chiral) LLs on the lattice for $\mathbf{ B}\parallel z$ ($\mathbf{ B}\parallel x$). Remarkably, we find that the sheet Hall conductivity becomes quantized for $\mathbf{ B}\parallel z$ even when two Weyl nodes project onto a single Fermi point in two opposite surfaces, forming a Fermi loop with $k_z$ as the good quantum number. On the other hand, the Fermi loop, connecting two distinct Fermi points in two opposite surfaces, with $k_x$ being the good quantum number, causes the quantization in sheet Hall conductivity for $\mathbf{ B}\parallel x$. The quantization is almost lost (perfectly remained) in the type-II phase for $\mathbf{ B}\parallel x$ ($\mathbf{ B}\parallel z$). Interestingly, the jump profiles between the adjacent quantized plateaus change with the topological charge for both of the above cases. The momentum-integrated three-dimensional Hall conductivity is not quantized; however, it bears the signature of chiral LLs as resulting in the linear dependence on $\mu$ for small $\mu$. The linear zone (its slope) reduces (increases) as the tilt (topological charge) of the underlying WSM increases.