Proposal for detecting nodal-line semimetal surface-states with resonant spin-flipped reflection

Abstract

Topological nodal-line semimetals are predicted to exhibit unique drumhead-like surface states (DSS). Yet, a direct detection of such states remains a challenge. Here, we propose spin-resolved transport in a junction between a normal metal and a spin-orbit coupled nodal-line semimetal as the mechanism for their detection. Specifically, we find that in such a device, the DSS induce resonant spin-flipped reflection. This effect can be probed by both vertical spin transport and lateral charge transport between anti-parallel magnetic terminals. In the tunneling limit of the junction, both spin and charge conductances exhibit a resonant peak around zero energy, providing a unique evidence of the DSS. This signature is robust to both dispersive DSS and interface disorder. Based on numerical calculations, we show that the scheme can be implemented in the topological semimetal HgCr$_2$Se$_4$.