Quantum interference of pseudospin-1 fermions

Abstract

Quantum interference is studied in a three-band model of pseudospin-one fermions in the $\alpha-\mathcal{T}_3$ lattice. We derive a general formula for magnetoconductivity that predicts a rich crossover between weak localization (WL) and weak antilocalization (WAL) in various scenarios. Recovering the known results for graphene ($\alpha=0$), we remarkably discover that WAL is notably enhanced when one deviates slightly from the graphene lattice, i.e. when $\alpha>0$, even though Berry's phase is no longer $\pi$. This is attributed to the presence of multiple Cooperon channels. Upon further increasing $\alpha$, a crossover to WL occurs that is maximal for the case of the Dice lattice ($\alpha=1$). Our work distinctly underscores the role of non-trivial band topology in the localization properties of electrons confined to the two-dimensional $\alpha-\mathcal{T}_3$ lattice.