Group Theory on Quasisymmetry and Protected Near Degeneracy

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Li, Jiayu, Zhang, Ao, Liu, Yuntian, Liu, Qihang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Li, Jiayu
Zhang, Ao
Liu, Yuntian
Liu, Qihang
author_facet Li, Jiayu
Zhang, Ao
Liu, Yuntian
Liu, Qihang
contents In solid state systems, group representation theory is powerful in characterizing the behavior of quasiparticles, notably the energy degeneracy. While conventional group theory is effective in answering yes-or-no questions related to symmetry breaking, its application to determining the magnitude of energy splitting resulting from symmetry lowering is limited. Here, we propose a theory on quasisymmetry and near degeneracy, thereby expanding the applicability of group theory to address questions regarding large-or-small energy splitting. Defined within the degenerate subspace of an unperturbed Hamiltonian, quasisymmetries form an enlarged symmetry group eliminating the first-order splitting. This framework ensures that the magnitude of splitting arises as a second-order effect of symmetry-lowering perturbations, such as external fields and spin-orbit coupling. We systematically tabulate the quasisymmetry groups within 32 crystallographic point groups and find all the possible unitary quasisymmetry group structures regarding double degeneracy. Applying our theory to the realistic material AgLa, we predict a "quasi-Dirac semimetal" phase characterized by two tiny-gap band anticrossings.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2311_12738
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Group Theory on Quasisymmetry and Protected Near Degeneracy
Li, Jiayu
Zhang, Ao
Liu, Yuntian
Liu, Qihang
Materials Science
In solid state systems, group representation theory is powerful in characterizing the behavior of quasiparticles, notably the energy degeneracy. While conventional group theory is effective in answering yes-or-no questions related to symmetry breaking, its application to determining the magnitude of energy splitting resulting from symmetry lowering is limited. Here, we propose a theory on quasisymmetry and near degeneracy, thereby expanding the applicability of group theory to address questions regarding large-or-small energy splitting. Defined within the degenerate subspace of an unperturbed Hamiltonian, quasisymmetries form an enlarged symmetry group eliminating the first-order splitting. This framework ensures that the magnitude of splitting arises as a second-order effect of symmetry-lowering perturbations, such as external fields and spin-orbit coupling. We systematically tabulate the quasisymmetry groups within 32 crystallographic point groups and find all the possible unitary quasisymmetry group structures regarding double degeneracy. Applying our theory to the realistic material AgLa, we predict a "quasi-Dirac semimetal" phase characterized by two tiny-gap band anticrossings.
title Group Theory on Quasisymmetry and Protected Near Degeneracy
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.12738