Prediction of spin polarized Fermi arcs in quasiparticle interference in CeBi

Abstract

We predict that CeBi in the ferromagnetic state is a Weyl semimetal. Our calculations within density functional theory show the existence of two pairs of Weyl nodes on the momentum path $(0,0,{k}_{z})$ at $15\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ above and $100\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ below the Fermi level. Two corresponding Fermi arcs are obtained on surfaces of mirror-symmetric (010)-oriented slabs at $E=15\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ and both arcs are interrupted into three segments due to hybridization with a set of trivial surface bands. By studying the spin texture of surface states, we find the two Fermi arcs are strongly spin polarized but in opposite directions, which can be detected by spin-polarized ARPES measurements. Our theoretical study of quasiparticle interference (QPI) for a nonmagnetic impurity at the Bi site also reveals several features related to the Fermi arcs. Specifically, we predict that the spin polarization of the Fermi arcs leads to a bifurcation-shaped feature only in the spin-dependent QPI spectrum, serving as a fingerprint of the Weyl nodes.