Weyl nodes with higher-order topology in an optically driven nodal-line semimetal

Creating and manipulating topological states is a key goal of condensed matter physics. Periodic driving offers a powerful method to manipulate electronic states, and even to create topological states in solids. Here, we investigate the tunable Floquet states in a periodically driven higher-order nodal-line semimetal with both spatial inversion and time-reversal symmetries. We found that the Floquet Weyl semimetal states, which support both one-dimensional hinge Fermi arc and two-dimensional surface Fermi arc states, can be induced in the higher-order nodal-line semimetal by shining circularly polarized light. Moreover, we show that the location of Weyl nodes and the curvature of surface Fermi arcs can be tuned by adjusting the propagation direction and incident angle of light.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the tunable Floquet states in a periodically driven higher-order nodal-line semimetal with both spatial inversion and time-reversal symmetries. We found that circularly polarized light can induce Floquet Weyl semimetal states in the higher-order nodal-line semimetal and that the location of Weyl nodes and the curvature of surface Fermi arcs can be tuned by adjusting the propagation direction and incident angle of light.