Three-Dimensional Dirac Electrons at the Fermi Energy in Cubic Inverse Perovskites: Ca 3 PbO and Its Family
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: The band structure of cubic inverse perovskites, Ca_3PbO and its family, are investigated with the first-principles method. A close observation of the band structure reveals that six equivalent Dirac electrons with a very small mass exist on the line connecting the Gamma- and X-points, and at the symmetrically equivalent points in the Brillouin zone. The discovered Dirac electrons are three-dimensional and remarkably located exactly at the Fermi energy. A tight-binding model describing the low-energy band structure is also constructed and used to discuss the origin of the Dirac electrons in this material. Materials related to Ca_3PbO are also studied, and some design principles for the Dirac electrons in this series of materials are proposed.
Authors: Toshikaze Kariyado, Masao Ogata
Institution: The University of Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1997229701