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arXiv · 2201.04049

Strain-tuned topological phase transition and unconventional Zeeman effect in ZrTe5 microcrystals

Apurva Gaikwad·Song Sun·Peipei Wang·Liyuan Zhang·Jennifer Cano·Xi Dai·Xu Du
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Abstract

The geometric phase (Berry phase) of an electronic wave function is the fundamental basis of the topological properties in solids. Modulating band structure provides a tuning knob for the Berry phase, and in the extreme case drives a topological phase transition. Despite the significant developments in topological materials study, it remains a challenge to tune between different topological phases while tracing the impact of the Berry phase on quantum charge transport, in the same material. Here we report both in a magnetotransport study of ZrTe5. By tuning the band structure with uniaxial strain, we directly map a weak- to strong- topological phase transition through a gapless Dirac semimetal phase via quantum oscillations. Moreover, we demonstrate the impact of the strain-tunable spin-dependent Berry phase on the Zeeman effect through the amplitude of the quantum oscillations. We show that such a spin-dependent Berry phase, largely neglected in solid-state systems, is critical in modeling quantum oscillations in Dirac bands in topological materials.

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Apurva Gaikwad, Song Sun, Peipei Wang, Liyuan Zhang, Jennifer Cano, Xi Dai, Xu Du. 2022-01-11. Strain-tuned topological phase transition and unconventional Zeeman effect in ZrTe5 microcrystals. https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.04049

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