Anomaly-induced sound absorption in Weyl semimetals

Abstract

Topology of Weyl semimetals affects sound attenuation in these materials. Most notably, the existence of Berry monopoles associated with linear band crossings leads to the existence of acoustic magnetochiral dichroism: sound attenuation is different for opposite directions of sound propagation. The effect is within reach of current experimental techniques, and, importantly, is of quantum mechanical origin. This should help its detection in available compounds.