Work

Isotropic Dirac fermion and anomalous oscillator strength of the zeroth Landau level transition in LaAlSi

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Dirac fermions, with linear dispersion and relativistic nature, are a prominent class of quasiparticles in condensed matter physics. While the Dirac equation provides a remarkable framework for describing these quasiparticles, symmetry constraints in condensed matter often cause deviations from the idealized paradigm. In particular, three-dimensional Dirac fermions in solids typically exhibit anisotropy, challenging the perfect symmetry inherent in the Dirac equation. Here, we report isotropic massive Dirac fermions in LaAlSi revealed by Landau level spectroscopy. Quantized and semiclassical analyses of Landau level transitions demonstrate the presence of three-dimensional massive Dirac fermions. The isotropic topological nature, Fermi velocity, and Dirac mass are evidenced by identical magneto-infrared response in the Faraday and three Voigt geometries. Furthermore, the zeroth Landau level transition exhibits unusually large oscillator strength compared to higher-index transitions. Model calculations suggest this arises from partial excitation of Dirac fermions and resonant dielectric coupling with the Weyl plasma. Our work provides a strategy for realizing ideal quasiparticle excitations and their coupling effects in condensed matter, offering a platform for exploring relativistic physics. The band structure of solid state systems can exhibit linear like dispersions resembling the Dirac equation in high-energy physics; however, the crystal structure anisotropy typically associated with solid state systems can lead to deviations from the symmetry of the original equation. Here, using Landau level spectroscopy, the authors report experimental evidence for isotropic fermions in 3D crystal structure of LaAlSi.

Source: Communications Physics

DOI: 10.1038/s42005-025-02288-7