Disorder-induced coupling of Weyl nodes in WTe_{2}

Abstract

The finite coupling between Weyl nodes due to residual disorder is investigated by magnetotransport studies in WTe_{2}. The anisotropic scattering of quasiparticles is evidenced from classical and quantum transport measurements. A theoretical approach using the real band structure is developed in order to calculate the dependence of the scattering anisotropy with the correlation length of the disorder. A comparison between theory and experiments reveals a short correlation length in WTe_{2} (ξ∼5 nm). This result implies a significant coupling between Weyl nodes and other bands. Our study thus shows that a finite intercone scattering rate always exists in weakly disordered type-II Weyl semimetals, such as WTe_{2}, which strongly suppresses topologically nontrivial properties.