Tunable double-Weyl Fermion semimetal state in the SrSi2 materials class

Abstract

We discuss first-principles topological electronic structure of noncentrosymmetric SrSi2 materials class based on the hybrid exchange-correlation functional. Topological phase diagram of SrSi2 is mapped out as a function of the lattice constant with focus on the semimetal order. A tunable double-Weyl Fermion state in Sr1-x Ca x Si2 and Sr1-x Ba x Si2 alloys is identified. Ca doping in SrSi2 is shown to yield a double-Weyl semimetal with a large Fermi arc length, while Ba doping leads to a transition from the topological semimetal to a gapped insulator state. Our study indicates that SrSi2 materials family could provide an interesting platform for accessing the unique topological properties of Weyl semimetals. © 2018 The Author(s).