Time-reversal invariant realization of the Weyl semimetal phase

Understand

We propose a realization of the Weyl semimetal phase that is invariant under time reversal and occurs due to broken inversion symmetry.

• We consider both a simple superlattice model and a more realistic tight-binding model describing an experimentally reasonable HgTe/CdTe multilayer structure.
• The two models have the same underlying symmetry, therefore their low-energy features are equivalent.
• We find a Weyl semimetal phase between the normal insulator and the topological insulator phases that exists for a finite range of the system parameters and exhibits a finite number of Weyl points with robust band touching at the Fermi level.