Physorg March 9, 2018
Researchers in Singapore show that Dirac semimetals are unusual in that they possess a very optically active surface due to the peculiar Fermi arc states. Surface absorption depends heavily on the polarization of light, being 100 to 1,000 times stronger when light is polarized perpendicular—rather than parallel—to the crystal’s rotational axis. This strong anisotropy offers a way of optically investigating and probing the topological surfaces states of Dirac semimetals which could host unusual opto-electronic behavior that goes beyond conventional materials… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
The upper and lower electron bands in a semimetal touch at places known as Dirac points. Credit: American Physical Society