Symmetry-enforced Dirac points in antiferromagnetic semiconductors

Abstract

It is shown that the symmetry enforced Dirac points exist at some time reversal symmetric momenta in antiferroemgnetic compound GdB4. These Dirac points may be controlled by the external magnetic field or by the deformation of the crystal. Application of the external magnetic field leads to splitting of these points into Weyl points or to opening of a gap depending on the field direction. The application of the symmetry breaking deformation also opens a gap in the spectrum. Suppression of the antiferromagnetic order leads to the formation of the nodal line instead of the Dirac points. This indicates that the symmetry enforced Dirac semimetals may be effectively used in different spintronic devices.