Transition from nodal loop to nodal chain phase in a periodically modulated optical lattice

We propose to study the transition from a nodal loop to nodal chain phase in a tunable two-dimensional $\pi$-flux lattice with periodical modulation potential. The Hamiltonian describes a periodically modulated optical lattice system under artificial magnetic fluxes and the tunable modulation phase factor provides additionally an artificial dimension of external parameter space. We demonstrate that this lattice system is able to describe a semimetal with either nodal loop or nodal chain Fermi surface in the extended three-dimensional Brillouin zone. By changing the strength of modulation potential $V$, we realize the transformation between the nodal-loop and nodal-chain semimetal.